US Embassy holds movie night
As part of the ‘Discover America Week’, the US Embassy held a movie night on Sunday at the Galleria Theater, where ‘The Magnificent Seven’ was screened. In his opening speech, Lawrence R Silverman, US Ambassador to Kuwait, said: “This year marks the fourth annual Discover America Week. We are featuring events throughout Kuwait highlighting different aspects of the United States, including music, film, food, sports, automobiles, education and tourism.”
He added there are special offers at American restaurants and stores, discounts on food products at the Sultan Center, as well as seminars about studying in the United States. “Before we begin the film, I would like to speak about the protection of intellectual property rights. In 2015, the total estimated retail price of goods seized by US authorities for violation of intellectual property rights increased to $1.3 billion,” Silverman said.
He pointed out that the Kuwaiti government has begun to take steps to strengthen protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, “such as passing a new copyright law, but there is still much work to be done”. “Strong protection and enforcement of intellectual property is important because it’s the cornerstone of economic growth - here in Kuwait as it is in America,” Silverman noted. He added that the US believes in an economically strong and prosperous Kuwait and supports Kuwait as it develops its knowledge-based and creative economy. “As Kuwaiti laws are changed to encourage foreign investment, American companies are contributing to this development.”
Silverman said “The Magnificent Seven” is a remake of one of the most famous Western films from the 1960s. Making and viewing movies is an integral part of American culture, and the vehicle by which some of America’s greatest talents display their craft. The film is enriched by the original soundtrack of one of America’s most famous and well-respected composers, the late Academy Award winner Elmer Bernstein.
At the end of the event, Silverman thanked Discover America Week sponsors: Crowne Plaza, Qatar Airways, Jeep, Al-Anbaa newspaper, Cinescape, Alshaya, the Sultan Center, the American University of Kuwait and the American Business Council-Kuwait.