Yemeni Film “The Burdened” Triumphs at Casablanca Arab Film Festival
The Casablanca Arab Film Festival recently concluded its fifth edition, celebrating a vibrant tapestry of Arabic cinema. The festival, held at the Sacred Heart Church in Casablanca, culminated in an awards ceremony that saw the Yemeni-Sudanese film “The Burdened” take home the coveted Grand Prize.
Directed by Amro Jamal, “The Burdened” captivated the jury for the feature film competition, earning unanimous praise. This win speaks volumes about the growing presence and recognition of Yemeni cinema on the international stage.
The festival, known for championing diverse voices within Arab filmmaking, awarded a range of other accolades. Moroccan cinema shone brightly with Hassan Benjelloun’s “Jalal Eddine” receiving the Special Jury Prize. Meanwhile, Saudi director Ali Al-Kalthami’s “Night Courier” earned the Best Director award, and the Iraqi-Belgian production “Messi Baghdad,” directed by Sahim Omar Khalifa, clinched the Best Screenplay award.
The world of acting saw Tunisian actress Amina Ben Ismail honored with the Best Actress award for her role in “The In-Between,” directed by fellow Tunisian filmmaker, Nada Mezni Hafi. Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri received the Best Actor award for his performance in Farah Nabulsi’s “The Teacher,” a collaborative production between Qatar, Palestine, and the UK.
The feature film jury, headed by Lebanese critic Ibrahim Al-Ariss, also gave a special mention to the Egyptian film “Maqsoum,” directed by Kawthar Younis. The jury comprised a diverse panel of film experts, including Iraqi director and actor Bassem Kahar, Lamia Guiga, academic and artistic director of the Carthage Film Festival, Moroccan director Kamal Kamal, and Egyptian actress Bushra Rozza.
In the short film category, the Egyptian film “Eissa,” directed by Murad Mustafa, secured the top prize. Yemeni director Adel Al-Haimi’s “Bucket” won Best Director, while the Best Screenplay award went to “Do You Remember,” a joint production between France, Egypt, and Lebanon, directed by Dalia Nemlich.
The short film jury, led by Syrian artist Ayman Zidan, included Moroccan actress Majdouline Idrissi and Iraqi director and producer Hikmat Al-Baidhani.
The closing ceremony also featured remarks from Abdel Latif Nassiri, Deputy Mayor of Casablanca in charge of Culture and Sports. Nassiri praised the festival’s high caliber and promised an even more impressive sixth edition, hinting at the possibility of it being held under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
The Casablanca Arab Film Festival continues to be a vital platform for showcasing the creativity and diversity of Arab cinema, fostering cultural exchange and appreciation for this dynamic art form.
