The fourth edition of the Bahrain Film Festival 2024 concluded on Thursday evening, under the patronage of Dr. Ramzan Bin Abdulla Al Noaimi, Minister of Information. The event, themed “Celebrating the Art of Filmmaking,” was organised by the Bahrain Cinema Club with sponsorship from the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) and the strategic partnership of Marassi Bahrain as the main partner, along with development partner Saudi Film Commission.
A total of 89 short films from various Arab countries competed for festival awards. The closing ceremony, held at the Marassi Galleria as part of the “Bahrain, Capital of Arab Media” events, was attended by dignitaries including Reham Khalil, Ambassador of Egypt to Bahrain; Marie-Laure Charrier, Deputy French Ambassador, actress Sawsan Bader, Head of the Judging Panel; screenwriter Shaikha Suha Al Khalifa, jury members, prominent artists, and festival guests.
The festival announced the following main awards:
Documentary Films: The committee gave special recognition to “Lost Rights” by Libyan director Mohamed Musalli, while the award for Best Short Documentary Film went to “Long Distances” by Omani directors Ali Al Bemani and Hamad Al Qasabi.Bahraini Films: The judging panel awarded Best Director to Jaafar Al Baqali for his film “Made for Beauty… Used for Ugliness”, Best Actor to Mubarak Khamees for the same film, Best Actress to Shaima Rahimi for Jooz, Best Cinematographer to Zohaib Latif for” Made for Beauty… Used for Ugliness”, and Best Film to “Bar Sar” by Mohamed Jassim.
Narrative Films: The jury awarded Islands of Palestine, directed by Nour Ben Salem and Julian Menento, while Best Actress was awarded to Nasreen Adam for her role in “Under a Mother’s Foot”.
The committee also recognised “Do You Remember” by Dalia Namlish and introduced an additional Jury Award for “Al Shakara and the Sea” by Tariq Marouni. The best Short Narrative Film went to “Zakarna and Anathna” by Ahmed Al Yassir.
Animated Films: Saudi animated films received a special acknowledgment, with Coffee by Rasha Al Sharif and “Between Two Worlds” by Ithar Baamar awarded certificates of appreciation. The Best Animated Film award went to “Monster from the Sky”, directed by Maryam Khayyat.
Student Films: Several student films were recognised, including “The Wall” by Khaled Abdulsalam and “Stranger in My House” by Ahmed Saber, which received special mentions from the judging panel.
“ The 6 Tower” by Mayya Belouza won the Student Jury Award, while “Samina” by Ahmed Barkiya received the Best Student Film award.
Festival Director Ammar Zainal commended the support and collaboration of the Minister of Information in sponsoring the festival and fostering young talent in short filmmaking.
He highlighted the role of the Saudi Film Commission, emphasising that this year’s festival aimed to foster a renewed culture of competitive and professional filmmaking.
Zainal concluded by announcing that the Bahrain Film Festival will return for its fifth edition in 2025.
Zainal noted the variety of films showcased, including narrative shorts, documentaries, animated films, and student projects.
He highlighted the strong female presence on the organising team, aligning with the festival’s theme.
Zainal thanked all artistic figures for their attendance and contributions to the festival’s success.
Zainal emphasised the Bahrain Film Festival’s role as a significant platform for Arab cinema, enhancing cultural exchange among Arab nations, particularly as support for cinematic arts grows.
He underscored the festival’s government and private partnerships that bolster its success and future development.
Marie-Laure Charrier, Deputy French Ambassador, emphasised the importance of the awards ceremony as an exceptional event with important cultural and artistic dimensions.
She announced a fully funded opportunity for the festival’s top filmmaker to attend the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in France, which includes specialised artistic workshops and various activities to foster networking and knowledge exchange.
The deputy ambassador commended the recognition of young emerging talents in cinema and expressed hope that the awards would mark the beginning of a journey toward impactful future projects.
