Cinema of West Asia

West Asian cinema refers collectively to the film output and film industries of West Asia.

This particular refers to the sizeable industries of Iran, and Turkey. By definition, it also covers the film industries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The cinema of Armenia is more substantial than the cinema of the Persian Gulf nations.

The cinema of Azerbaijan is well established and diverse unlike the much more recent and fledgling cinema of the Persian Gulf nations. The film industry in Azerbaijan dates back to 1898 and Azerbaijan was among the first countries involved in cinematography.

The first cinema to be established in Bahrain consisted of a makeshift cinema set up in a cottage in 1922, with the first official cinema set up in 1937. Several more were established in the 1950s and 1960s, and the Bahrain Cinema and Film Distribution Company began operating in 1967, which was renamed the Bahrain Cinema Company in 1976. There are now a number of modern-style cinemas in Bahrain, including the 20-screen complex in Bahrain City Centre. (See Cinema of Bahrain).

The cinema of Georgia began just before the 20th century and is rich and varied. A well-organized state film industry emerged in the 1920s with substantial numbers of feature films as well as documentaries and animated films being produced.

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