Bahrain’s young filmmakers shine in 48-hour competition
TDT | Manama
Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com
The grand finale of the 48h Film Challenge - Bahrain concluded on Monday, celebrating the Kingdom’s emerging filmmakers.
Organised by the French Embassy to Bahrain and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, this challenge provided a platform for young storytellers to showcase their talent.
Launched in November with the 4th Bahrain Film Challenge, the initiative aimed to cultivate new talent.
Under the guidance of French director Lionel Steketee, participants attended workshops before embarking on the challenge of creating a short film within 48 hours.
Emerging talents
Over 100 aspiring filmmakers applied, with seven selected teams competing.
The initiative was supported by the Bahrain Film Festival and French film school ESRA Paris, which offered a residency opportunity for the Jury Award winner.
Award ceremony
The final screening on Monday brought together industry professionals, participants, and sponsors.
Seven short films were showcased before winners were announced.
The Jury Award, selected by a panel of film professionals, was awarded alongside the Audience Award, determined by live voting.
Victorious films
The Audience Award went to Perfect Spot, directed by Mohamed Ali, Ahmed Alzaki, Aref Falamarzi, Mohamed Faisal Ebrahim, and Sayed Mujtaba Hasan, students at Bahrain Polytechnic.
The film was praised for its humour and craftsmanship.
The Jury Award was won by Echoes of Yesterday, directed by Yasmeen Sadek, Latifa Abdulla Al Khalifa, Tamara Kamal, and Tariq Aladdin, students at the American University of Bahrain.
The film explored the theme of loss in a poignant and lyrical manner.
The French Embassy announced an exclusive scholarship for a member of the Jury Award-winning team, granting them a one-month summer school experience at ESRA Paris.
The recipient will be announced in the coming days following a selection process by ESRA’s academic committee.
French support
Deputy Ambassador Marie-Laure Charrier highlighted Bahraini filmmakers gaining international exposure through French initiatives.
Documentary filmmaker Mohamed Jasim recently represented Bahrain at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, while Hamad Abdullah Ali and Shaikha Suha Al Khalifa are participating in the ‘Produire au Sud’ programme in Dubai to develop their first feature film.
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