He has ‘a love for Arab culture’

• Last Updated: October 14. 2008 9:30AM UAE / October 14. 2008 5:30AM GMT

Recently at the Toronto International Film Festival I saw Antonio Banderas and his wife, Melanie Griffith. More than 10 years ago my son starred opposite Banderas in the movie The 13th Warrior. We started talking about Arabic culture and his fascination with the region. He told me about how he has created a project dear to him that he will be shooting shortly called Boabdil: The Last King. The film tells the story of King Boabdil, who surrendered Granada to the Catholic king and queen in 1492.

Antonio invited my wife and I to visit him at his house in Los Angeles after the festival. As a producer and filmmaker, I have met many people in my time who are extremely passionate about their projects. What I didn’t expect was to be moved the way I was when Antonio described his film. Boabdil is about the last Arab king to rule Spain. And while Antonio started talking, I could hear his love for Arab culture. He believes he has an Arabic bloodline that can be traced from his Andalusian ancestral roots to Islam.

We listened to a variety of songs and even Quranic verses that he has researched and he loves to listen to. Antonio described how the Arab influence made Spain what it is today: rich in culture and heritage. When I read the film’s synopsis that he had written, I was intrigued and overwhelmed. This is something that Moustafa Akkad, the legendary Arab filmmaker, would write.

I once held the view that only Arabs would be able to create a film like Boabdil. I was wrong. I did not expect to be touched by someone like Antonio. Boabdil: The Last King is a lifelong dream for him. The movie has a message about Arabs and Islam that the world needs to know.

Antonio told me that he was planning a trip to the region and I asked him if he would consider coming to Abu Dhabi and attending the Middle East International Film Festival. He agreed. I hope he will walk away with an idea of the Arabic heritage and hospitality that Abu Dhabi can provide. I have been in the entertainment business for many years wanting to change people’s perception and wanting to make movies positive about Arabs. What I didn’t realise was that there are people out there like Banderas who can and are doing exactly that.

Ziad Batal is an executive producer and a senior program creator at All 4 Media.