Somalia has hosted its first public film-screening in 30 years – raising hopes of a cultural revival in the war-ravaged country. Two short films by Somali director Ibrahim C.M. were shown at the National Theatre in the capital Mogadishu, where heavy security was in place.<br />''<br />''The theatre has been a suicide bomb target and a base for warlords. Theatre director Abdikadir Abdi Yusuf said, it was a historic night for the Somali people. It's a platform that provides an opportunity to Somali songwriters, storytellers, movie directors and actors to present their talent openly, he added.<br />''  <br />''Filmgoers paid 10 dollars to watch the two films, Hoos and Date from Hell. They had to pass through several checkpoints in order to reach the heavily-guarded green zone, which houses the theatre as well as the Presidential Palace and the Parliament.<br />''  <br />''The theatre was built by Chinese engineers as a gift from China's leader Mao Zedong in 1967. It was seen as an important driver for Somalia's cultural development in the 1970s and 80s.<br />''It closed in 1991 at the start of the civil war and was used as a base for warlords fighting over the capital. The theatre fell into disrepair as a result. When it reopened in 2012 – after repairs carried out by the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) – the building was immediately blown up by al-Shabab militants who considered live entertainment and films to be morally corrupt.<br />