Celebrating French cinema
Organised by the French Embassy and Alliance Française Bahrain, the third edition, celebrating French-language cinema will showcase films from across Africa, America, Asia, and Europe.
Presented in partnership with the embassies of Armenia, Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Vietnam, the festival highlights the diversity and creativity of the French-speaking world. Most films will be partially or entirely in French, with English subtitles.
Screenings will take place from May 17-22 at EPIX Cinemas, Dana Mall. The schedule is set to be released today. All screenings are free of charge and open to the public on a walk-in basis, subject to seat availability.
The official opening is scheduled to be held on May 18 at 7pm, with a special screening of The Count of Monte Cristo (Le Comte de Monte Cristo), directed by Alexandre de la Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte.
The opening event, held under the auspices of French Ambassador Eric Giraud-Telme, is free but requires registration via the Embassy's Instagram account @francebahrein.
In addition to the cinema screenings, a special off-site showing of the documentary La Ville Louvre (1990) by Nicolas Philibert will be held on May 22 at 6pm at the Bahrain National Museum, in celebration of International Museum Day. Organised in collaboration with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the documentary offers an insider's look at the world's most famous museum.
The festival also caters to families, with a dedicated selection of animated films for children to be screened at EPIX Cinemas' Kinder auditorium.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
a day ago
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain-Based Student Honored in India Book of Records for Poetry
A seven-year-old student from Indian School in Bahrain has made her mark in the India Book of Records with her exceptional talent in English poetry. Fellah Mehak, a second-grader and daughter of Bahrain expatriates Akbar Shah, originally from Kollam, Kerala, and Adv. Shafna from Kayamkulam, Kerala, impressed the judges by reciting 20 original poems in just 8 minutes and 47 seconds on a topic given on the spot. Each poem was three to four lines long, showcasing her creativity and quick thinking. Fellah has been studying at Indian School since LKG and actively participates in competitions including clay modeling, dance, craft, drawing, coloring, and speech. Her parents shared that her love for stories began in childhood, with English storytime at home inspiring her curiosity and understanding of morals. Recently, Fellah was also recognized as the Best Camper at the Synergy Summer Delight Season 3 Camp, organized by Friends Social Association and Malarwadi Balasangham. She received an award at the camp celebrating her achievement in the India Book of Records. Fellah has a younger brother, Iizin Hash Mohammed, who is two years old. Her father, Akbar Shah, works as an engineer in a leading company in Bahrain, while her mother is an advocate. Looking ahead, Fellah dreams of becoming a scientist, and her parents continue to support and encourage her artistic and intellectual talents.
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia Drinks 36 Million Cups Of Coffee Daily, $320 Million Push To Boost Production
Coffee consumption in Saudi Arabia is booming at a pace that places the kingdom among the world's most caffeinated societies. Saudis now drink an estimated 36 million cups of coffee every day, according to the Saudi Restaurants and Cafés Association, in a market valued between $1.3 and $1.9 billion annually. The surge reflects more than taste. Coffee culture has become deeply embedded in Saudi daily life, powered by a youthful population — nearly 70 per cent of Saudis are under 35 — and by a dramatic expansion of cafés, from sleek international chains to local brands. As of mid-2024, Saudi Arabia's population is estimated at 35.3 million, with 19.6 million Saudi nationals and 15.7 million non-Saudis, providing context for the Kingdom's booming coffee consumption. The Ministry of Commerce said more than 61,000 business licences for cafés have been issued across the country, including 27,000 for traditional neighbourhood coffee shops. Top 10 countries that drink the most coffee per capita Finland: 4 to 5 cups per person daily; light roast filter coffee is most popular, and coffee breaks are legally mandated at work. Norway: Several cups daily, often black 'kokekaffe'; coffee is a staple of morning and social life. Iceland: A strong café culture despite its small population; coffee is drunk throughout the day, especially in colder months. Denmark: Coffee is tied to the lifestyle of hygge ; typically enjoyed with pastries during cozy gatherings. Netherlands: Coffee is served throughout the day, usually black or with a splash of milk, often offered to guests as a sign of hospitality. Sweden: Known for the fika tradition, where coffee is paired with something sweet; an important part of both work and family life. Switzerland: Espresso and café crème dominate; cafés are common gathering places paired with pastries or chocolate. Belgium: A mix of filter and espresso drinks; often served with chocolates or desserts in both social and business settings. Luxembourg: Influenced by French and German coffee styles, ranging from espresso to French press. Canada: The only non-European country in the top ten; coffee is a daily habit, often from Tim Hortons or brewed at home. Ahmed Al Kashqari, chief executive of the Saudi Restaurants and Cafés Association, said cafés now account for 16 percent of Saudi Arabia's food service sector, a space once dominated by restaurants. 'Coffee has become part of our lifestyle,' he said, noting that the sector continues to grow at an annual rate of more than 5 per cent. With 36 million cups consumed daily, this averages to roughly one cup per person per day, highlighting how deeply coffee culture has taken root across the Kingdom. Behind the explosion in consumption is a parallel push to build a domestic coffee industry. The Saudi Coffee Company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has pledged nearly $320 million over the next decade to plant 5 million coffee trees by 2030. The initiative aims to increase local production from 800 tonnes a year to more than 10,000 tonnes, enhancing the country's role in a global coffee market valued at $270 billion in 2024 and projected to rise to $369 billion by 2030. Saudi Arabia's ambition is not only economic but also cultural: A bid to establish itself as a regional hub for specialty coffee while honoring the deep heritage of Arabian beans, particularly the prized Khawlani variety, nurtured for generations in the misty southern highlands. In a nation once wary of public café culture, the shift has been dramatic. Barnes, a Saudi chain, now operates more than 800 outlets, outpacing Dunkin' with more than 600 and Starbucks with more than 450. Other local names such as Kyan and Dr. Café are also expanding rapidly, showing that Saudi brands increasingly rival global giants on home turf. And for many young Saudis, cafés have become more than a place for a caffeine fix; they have become social hubs and cultural venues, hosting art shows, book readings, and business meetings. 'Cafés are no longer just about coffee, they're about community,' Al Kashqari said. How Saudis compare globally While Saudi Arabia's consumption is striking, it still falls short of the world's most avid coffee-drinking nations. In the United States, where coffee is an entrenched daily ritual, Americans consume around 517 million cups a day, roughly three cups per adult, according to the National Coffee Association. Finland, often topping global rankings, averages 4 to 5 cups per person per day, making it the heaviest coffee consumer per capita worldwide. By contrast, Saudi Arabia's 36 million daily cups translate to about 1 to 1.5 cups per person, still significant in a region historically dominated by tea. 'Coffee has always been part of the region's identity,' said Ahmed Al Kashqari of the Saudi Restaurants and Cafés Association. 'What's different today is the scale, and the fact that Saudi Arabia wants to be not just a consumer, but a producer with a voice in the global market.'
Gulf Weekly
14-08-2025
- Gulf Weekly
Sip on a sonnet
Bahrain-based author and wordsmith Nivedita Roy has released her latest book of poems, exploring diverse themes inspired by injustice, war, women's issues and more, writes Melissa Nazareth. Bringing alive the Indian expatriate's 'scribbles', Recipe for a Poet's Broth, is a collection of 65 poems across seven sections, spanning introspections, fond memories and more. 'I made a short trip to the Swiss Alps in April this year and as I sat admiring the joys of nature, myriad thoughts came to mind. Pouring them on paper was a cathartic experience,' the 54-year-old told GulfWeekly, explaining the creative process behind her 'labour of love'. 'Once the compilation was sorted, I shared the manuscript with my editor, Ritu Bhatnagar, who is based in Bengaluru; this is our sixth project together. 'I requested Avantika Vijay Singh to write the Afterword. She is a poet and editor and has authored three books. 'Canada-based writer Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca, daughter of the famous poet Nissim Ezekiel, wrote a note for me in the book as well, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude to all,' the Al Raja School teacher added. Speaking of the book's name, the Adliya resident explained that it was sparked by a NaPoWriMo 2025 prompt – a month-long undertaking by poets around the world to pen down 30 creations in 30 days, based on a daily prompt. Many of the poems featured in the book were written during NaPoWriMo last year and some others are older. Nivedita, who has called Bahrain home for more than two decades, draws inspiration for a lot of her work from the kingdom. 'I am so proud to be part of this beautiful island. One of the poems in the section Poetic Forms was written during the creative writing session of the Bahrain Writers' Circle; Sunset was inspired by the mesmerising sunset at Karbabad beach; A cache of lessons, a multitude of teachers encapsulates my experiences as a teacher in Bahrain and A bustling nest to an empty nest has references to my life here after my children left,' she said. Dreams of Gaza has been translated into Arabic for an international anthology entitled Heaven's Paradise. An excerpt from the poem reads: 'Dreams of a warm hearth with kin breathing A posse to play marbles or just a cheerful race… The childish blabber was drowned in chaos.'
