Bahrain Film Festival Celebrates the Art of Filmmaking

The Bahrain Film Festival has launched its fourth session under the slogan “Celebrating the Art of Filmmaking”, which will be held from November 3rd to 7th. The opening ceremony was attended by prominent artists and filmmakers from the Arab world, with a focus on empowering women and highlighting their issues.

The Film ‘Convoluted’ Shines at the Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony featured a screening of the Bahraini short film “Convoluted” directed by Mohammad Farid and starring Ibrahim Al-Birawi, which captivated the audience.

“Women in Cinema” Session

In a discussion session titled “Women in Cinema”, Egyptian actress Mona Zaki shared her experience playing the role of Umm Kulthum in the film “Kawkab Al-Sharq” written by Ahmed Murad and directed by Marwan Hamed. Mona revealed that the character of Umm Kulthum left a profound impact on her, and even though filming ended 10 days ago, she is still processing the experience.

Mona Zaki described Umm Kulthum as “a legend by all standards”, explaining how the character influenced her. She considered Umm Kulthum an artist who achieved unparalleled success. Mona added that certain characters have a deep impact on the actor and described the experience of embodying the character as “very challenging”.

Overcoming Criticism

During the session, Mona Zaki became emotional while discussing the criticism she faced, noting its effect on her mental state. She explained that the support of her colleagues in the artistic community helped her overcome this difficult phase.

Bahrain Film Festival Awards

This year, the festival honored several artists, including Kuwaiti actor Mohammad Al-Mansour for his pioneering role in Gulf cinema, and Bahraini actresses Maryam Zayman and Fatima Abdul Rahim, praising their contribution to the development and enhancement of Bahraini cinema.

Participating Films

The fourth session of the Bahrain Film Festival will showcase 89 films in 5 main competitions, including short narrative films, short documentaries, student films, animation films, and Bahraini films.

Prominent Stars Attend the Festival

The festival was attended by several prominent stars from various Arab countries, including Bushra, Ashraf Zaki, Rogina, Fatima Al-Safi, Haifa Hussain, Yaqub Al-Farhan, Shazoun Al-Hajri, and Mahmoud Bushhari, adding a special touch to the occasion.