Doha - MENA Herald: As part of its Hekayat Khaleejiya screening series which showcases ‘Stories from the Gulf,’ the DFI Cinema will showcase Emirati director Saeed Salmeen’s captivating feature film Going to Heaven (UAE/2015/Arabic) on August 4 and 5, at 7.30 PM at the Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium.
Hekayat Khaleejiya is dedicated to showcasing cinematic voices from the Gulf region, and presents films followed by question-and-answer sessions with the filmmakers to gain insight into their work and process.
A 90-minute film, Going to Heaven revolves around the events in 11-year-old Sultan’s life. Seeking to return to the arms and the tenderness of his long-lost grandmother, Sultan embarks on an eventful journey from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah via Dubai. The film had its world premiere at the 2015 Dubai International Film Festival.
Written by Saeed Salmeen, the film stars Jumaa Ibrahim Al Zaabi, Ahmed Ibrahim Al Zaabi, Fatima Al Taei, Mariam Sultan and Abdullah Masood.
Saeed Salmeen graduated from the New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi. He has won awards for the short film Huboob (2006) at the Emirates Film Competition (EFC) and the Dubai International Film Festival, and continued this success with the short Al Ghobna (2007), which won award at the EFC and was screened at Dubai.
His first feature film, Sun Dress (2010), screened at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and won the Special Jury Award in the Muscat International Film Festival.
Tickets are priced QAR35; student tickets are priced at QAR25 and must present a valid ID to receive the discount. Tickets can be purchased from the Museum of Islamic Art DFI Ticket Outlet across from the MIA Auditorium on Thursday from 12 to 8 PM and on Friday from 2 to 8 PM.