Dubai, Apr 8 (IANS/WAM): A collection of 194 films from 41 countries will be screened in the seven-day Gulf Film Festival beginning Thursday.

The third edition of the GFF, organised by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, will open with Emirati film "City of Life".

The 194 films being screened at Festival also include 81 world premieres, 33 Middle East premieres, 17 Gulf premieres and nine UAE premieres.

The event will showcase 128 short fiction films, 28 short documentaries, 8 features, 5 feature documentaries and 25 animation films.

Gulf Film Festival Chairman Abdulhamid Juma said the festival has played a key role in promoting cinema from the Gulf region internationally.

"The Gulf Film Festival is now undisputedly the home to a new wave in Arab cinema and serves as the only venue for all members of the larger film fraternity to meet, discuss and explore films, several of them providing compelling glimpses into life in the Gulf region," said GFF director Masoud Amralla Al Ali.

UAE has the highest 36 films in the festival followed by Saudi Arabia (24), Oman (10), Kuwait (8) and Bahrain (6).