Short films made by Bahrainis are at the forefront of a new film festival that opened in the kingdom yesterday (November 26).

The inaugural Bahrain Cinema Days festival was launched by the Culture Ministry's Culture and National Heritage Under-Secretary Shaikha Azza bint Abdulrahman Al Khalifa at City Centre Bahrain, said a report in Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

More than 55 Bahraini, Arab, Asian and international films will be screened over the five-day festival, including 13 short Bahraini films that have been specially commissioned.

“We gave them about a month to produce and make the films,” Bahrain Cinema Days festival director Mohammed Bu Ali told the GDN.

“We had to receive the ideas and scenarios and they had to produce them in that time, so there was definitely a competitive atmosphere for them as they worked.

“Thankfully, they managed to produce quality films, with different ideas and they will go up against each other for best film, best scenario and best director on Sunday.

“We hope that these films will be ambassadors for Bahrain in the worldwide film festival circuit.”

Each short film is between five and 15 minutes long, Mr Bu Ali said.

“As a director myself, I would love to be involved in a festival like this, that gives the opportunity to produce a film with this sort of backing,” he said.

“I’m trying my best to do for young filmmakers what I would want for myself.

“This sort of festival will create an opportunity for filmmakers to find backing in the future, in order to improve Bahraini films.

“Bahraini films are very different from others in the Gulf and the Arab region. We are distinguished through our stories, legends and history.”

Three pioneers in the Arab film industry - Bahraini Sayed Khalifa Shaheen, Kuwaiti Khalid Sadeeq and Egyptian Sayed Dawood Abdel Sayed were honoured at the opening yesterday for their outstanding achievements in both the Arab world and beyond.

“Film has come to reflect the truth about the societal realities that people live in, in the Arab world,” said Culture Ministry Culture and Arts director Aqeel Abdulqader.

“It occupies an important place to lighten and brighten people's lives, showing them that they can cross their own limits and find strength to make a change.”

The films will start screening from today at City Centre Bahrain cinema and Bahrain Fort courtyard. - TradeArabia News Service