Kaled Mohamad Sidik headlines Bopcorn & Sawaalef

Kaled Mohamad Sidik's films have won numerous awards at festivals, including Cannes and Venice, since first venturing into filmmaking in the early 1960s.

The 62-year-old Kuwaiti writer, producer and director is in the UAE for Image Nation Abu Dhabi's Bopcorn & Sawaalef film club event tomorrow night at NYU Abu Dhabi, where he will talk about his work and experiences in the industry, both regionally and internationally.

Sidik, who has been called "the spiritual father of Arabian Gulf cinema" and was honoured for his lifetime achievements at the Gulf Film Festival in 2009 , is best-known for Kuwait's first feature film, The Cruel Sea. The controversial film exploring Kuwait before the discovery of oil won nine international awards, including the The Lion of St Mark Award and Fipresci International Critics Award at the Venice Film Festival.

Sidik plans to share some of his experiences as a filmmaker with the audience, hoping to give film enthusiasts more insight into the industry.

"Forty years later and The Cruel Sea is still being criticised," he said. "Yes, oil changed things, but we should not be ashamed of our past."

Sidik jokes about how surprised he was when the film suddenly took off.

"It was around 1971, and with The Cruel Sea, I was running around all the festivals for two years until I was exhausted," he said. "I believe I'd also travelled around the world twice in just 22 days. People used to look at Arabic movies as all being like the popular Egyptian style - but then, suddenly, there was this new filmmaker with a different approach."

During the Bopcorn & Sawaalef event, he will also share stories from his career, including a memorable incident at one of the Venice Film Festivals he plans to share only with attendees.

"Being called the 'spiritual father of Arabian Gulf cinema' makes me feel old and believe me, I'm not that old," he says laughing. "But, it's honestly an honour."

Image Nation is also hosting an invite-only masterclass lunch for Sidik, with local film students and film makers.

For Sidik, the importance of storytelling is conveying messages, be they social, historical, cultural, religious or political.

"I don't like to do the typical 'cops and robbers' type of films, people already know them. Audiences need information and they like to see different worlds," he says.

The Image Nation Bopcorn & Sawaalef film club event takes place tomorrow at 6pm, NYU Abu Dhabi

* Maey El Shoush

Pots for the Asian Qualifiers

Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

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Fight card

Preliminaries:

Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)

Main card:

Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)

Title card:

Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)

Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)

Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)

THE BIO

Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren

Favourite travel destination: Switzerland

Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers

Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum

While you're here

The National Editorial: The fragile future of jobs in the Middle East

Daniel Bardsley: Covid-19 effect on jobs – the occupations most at risk

Alice Haine: Sunak urged to rescue ailing car industry as production slumps

The specs: 2019 BMW X4

Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800

Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km

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Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.