Cinema of Kuwait

Cinema of Kuwait
No. of screens	61 (2010)[1]
• Per capita	2.3 per 100,000 (2010)[1]
Number of admissions (2008)[2]
Total	2,200,000
Gross box office (2008)[2]
Total	$19.8 million

Cinema in Kuwait was introduced in the mid-20th century. The dominance of American cinema posed a problem in the formation of Arab cinema in general and of Kuwaiti cinema in particular.^[3] French film critic Guy Hennebelle argued that Arab intellectuals became convinced that only imitating the American culture could they overcome national decline and backwardness. This caused an absence of real Kuwaiti personality and character. However, Kuwaitis preserved their national identity by producing and broadcasting local content in their television channels.^[4] Which was a balance between protecting and preserving their national identity while also satisfying other preferences. The domination of American films and other foreign produced films has the Kuwaiti cinema imitate and depend on it for so long. In 1971, Khalid Alsidiqq directed the first Kuwaiti feature film that talks about its cultural heritage and history. Recently, the cinema industry in Kuwait employs a strong usage of local culture and tradition.^[5]

In 1972, Kuwait produced their first feature film Bas ya Bahr (The Cruel Sea). Which talks about common life in the pre-oil discovery period when fishing was a predominant occupation.^[6] This initiated the film industry in Kuwait as it was one of the most famous and acknowledged feature film of the era. In 1976, Kuwait produced its second feature film The Wedding of Zain. In the Gulf region, Kuwait is considered as the birthplace of the Khaleji culture and its film industry.

In the cinematic history of Kuwait there are female actresses who had a prominent role in shaping the cinema today. Souad Abdullah is considered an iconic Kuwaiti actress who had a prominent role in shaping the Kuwaiti cinema today. Hayat Al Fahad is another iconic Kuwaiti actress in the industry, she participated in the first feature Kuwaiti film Bas Ya Bahr.

In 1954, the Kuwait National Cinema Company was established. Being the first leading entertainment company in Kuwait and in the Gulf. Moreover, in 2005 it released its Cinematic brand and theatre in the country, Cinescape. Kuwait was the first country in the Middle East and the second worldwide after Australia to ease M-NET payment, improving audience experiences in cinema.