Filmmakers in Bahrain are being urged to take part in an international festival being held in the country.

More than 100 directors from around the world have already entered their documentaries and short films for the third annual Naqsh Short Film Festival (NSFF 2014) ahead of its August 31 submission deadline, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The festival is being organised by Naqsh Films and aims to promote Bahrain as the sole regional hub for short films.

It will be held between October 15 and 19 at the cinema in Seef Mall, and will feature several categories, including Best Picture, Best Bahraini Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Acting, Best in Technical Excellence and Best New Artist.

Festival managing director Mohammed Maskati hopes more of Bahrain's expatriate directors will come forward to take part in the event's Creative Naqsh Awards for Bahraini Films.

Criteria

To be eligible for the competition filmmakers must meet at least one of three criteria; the subject and storyline of the film should be centred on Bahrain, some scenes should be shot in Bahrain, or the filmmaker should be of Bahraini nationality.

"I would like to point out that not only Bahrainis can take part in this competition, but also filmmakers from various nationalities can participate as long as they meet the competition's requirements," he told the GDN.

"We have received more than 100 entries, most of them are from Asian and international directors.

"This festival gives people in Bahrain the opportunity to see the production of international cinema and observe other cultures, especially those who can't go to the Cannes Film Festival or the Oscars or any other major festival.

"It could also be a destination to all cinema enthusiasts because this is the only festival specialised in short films in the region."

Three new categories have been introduced this year; Director's Choice for Saudi Arabian films, Asian Short Film and the first international category for animation films.

"The festival now has a base of regional and international directors, which kept growing throughout the three years since it was launched," Maskati.

"Some even produce films for this very festival, which shows how keen they are." - TradeArabia News Service