Tunisian star Dhafer L'Abidine was selected as a guest of honor at the opening of the 5th Original Narrative Short Film Festival, which will take placeon December 7 at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School For Communication (MBRSC)at the American University in Dubai (AUD). This year, the festival will host the Creative Community Collaboration (CCC) initiative, which was launched by MBC Group last August. L'Abidine will also participatein a panel discussion titled "an intimate conversation with" held within the festival's Forum, where he will talk about his work in the Arab world and internationally with young Arab filmmakers.

Launched by MBC Group, the Creative Community Collaboration (CCC) aims to strengthen ties and partnerships between the MENA region and the Hollywood entertainment industry.

The Original Narrative Short Film Festival was founded by the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication at the American University in Dubai (AUD) in 2014. The Festival is for aspiring film makers from across the region in both narrative and documentary, with a forum running in parallel to it which features a host of speakers from around the world to share their experiences and inspire these young film makers and students.

Before his sky-rocketing breakthrough in the Arab world, Dhafer L'Abidine enjoyed a successful career in the West, appearing in international film productions, such as Children of Men (2006), Sex and the City 2 (2010), Centurion (2010), Black Forest (2012), and Rise of the Footsoldier (UK). L'Abidine alsostarred in several Arab TV series and films, including his latest TV series Eugénie Nights (2018),which takes place in Cairo and Port Said in 1946.Last year, he starred in the two successful TV series Caramel and Halawat Al Dounia, for which he won the Murex D'or for Best Arab Actor in a TV Series. Currently airing on MBC 4, Dhafer starred in the new series Beirut's Bride, which is based on the Turkish TV series Bride of Istanbul. He is currently shooting his scenes for the film Al Ankbout (The Spider), starring Ahmed El Sakka and Mona Zaki.