Haifaa Al Mansour’s award-winning drama [pictured] will launch the sixth edition of the festival on April 11.

Wadjda has been confirmed as the opening film of the sixth Gulf Film Festival (GFF), which takes place in Dubai Festival City from April 11-17.

Writer-director Haifaa Al Mansour will be in attendance on the opening night for the screening of her film, which has won awards at the likes of Dubai and Venice.

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, GFF festival director commented: “Wadjda is the perfect film to open the festival and we are incredibly proud of Haifaa and the international success she has achieved with her impressive debut feature.”

He continued: “Wadjda first came onto our radars at a script workshop during the 2007 Gulf Film Festival and we fell in love with the story instantly. It only seems right that this remarkable accomplishment should be celebrated at GFF and we look forward to seeing what this incredibly talented filmmaker will present next.”

GFF is presented by The Investment Corporation of Dubai and held in association with Dubai Studio City. The festival is supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.