Sari Albeder – Baghdad Film Festival 2024
The Baghdad Film Festival rejuvenates Iraqi cinema once again with the participation of a large number of cinema professionals and art stars from the Arab world.
The first edition of the Baghdad Film Festival witnessed a new dawn in the world of Iraqi art and cinema, where this artistic event shone with effective participation from numerous cinema professionals and stars in the Arab world. This participation embodies a positive interaction with cultural and artistic events in the country, contributing to the revival of Iraqi cinema and enhancing its position on the Arab and international stage.
The extensive participation of Iraqi filmmakers in this festival is a crucial step towards revitalizing the cinematic scene in the country. After years of challenges and difficult conditions, the Baghdad Film Festival serves as a platform to spotlight local talent and promote communication between Iraqi and Arab filmmakers.
At the conclusion of the first edition of the Baghdad Film Festival, Dr. Jabar Joudi, the head of the Artists’ Union and the president of the Baghdad Film Festival, expressed his delight and pride in the success achieved by this artistic event. The festival witnessed active and substantial participation, receiving significant interaction from both the audience and the film industry, thereby solidifying the festival’s position as one of the most prominent cultural and artistic events in the region.
The festival president also commended the tremendous efforts exerted by the organizing team to bring this event to fruition. He underscored the importance of this success in elevating the status of Iraqi cinema and encouraging young creatives to actively participate in sharing and presenting their works to the global stage. Additionally, he expressed his pride in the festival’s support for talents from Iraq and the Arab world, emphasizing its effective role in providing opportunities for creators to showcase their innovations to a broad audience.
The first edition of the festival was named after “The Iraqi Director Mohammed Shukri Jameel” in honor of his long cinematic career.
The director of the Baghdad Film Festival, Dr. Hikmat Al-Baydani, stated to “Iraqis in the Netherlands and Europe” platform, “We have worked diligently for a long time to prepare for this significant festival in its first edition to showcase the artistic and beautiful creative face of Iraq and provide an opportunity for Iraqi creators to present their works and connect with filmmakers from Arab and foreign countries.”
The Baghdad Film Festival also serves as a platform to support and encourage young talents, awarding commendations for promising and creative films. This recognition elevates the level of competition and encourages the submission of high-quality cinematic works.
Al-Baydani also spoke about the significant participation of cinema professionals and art stars that distinguished the festival in its first edition. This event is an opportunity for the audience to enjoy a wide range of films reflecting the diversity of stories and cinematic styles, presenting local films that mirror the social and cultural reality of Iraq
In an exclusive statement to “Iraqis in the Netherlands and Europe,” Egyptian star Ilham Shahin thanked the organizers of the festival for celebrating Egyptian artists, stating, “Honoring pioneers of Iraqi art is what distinguishes the Baghdad Festival, and I hope for its success. Iraq deserves to have distinctive cinematic production due to its history and civilization.”
In an exclusive statement to “Iraqis in the Netherlands and Europe,” the Egyptian star Ilham Shaheen thanked the organizers of the festival for honoring Egyptian artists. She said, “Honoring pioneers of Iraqi art is what distinguishes the Baghdad Festival. I wish success to this festival, and Iraq deserves to have a distinctive cinematic production because it is a country with a rich history and civilization.”
Renowned Egyptian artist Abdelaziz Mekheon also emphasized the importance of holding film festivals among Arab countries, stating on the sidelines of his participation in the first Baghdad Film Festival, “Organizing any festival in Iraq and Arab countries is an asset to Arab cinema and cinematic culture.”
He continued, “Iraq, the country of civilization, with a history comparable to ancient Egypt, both possessing a continuous riverine civilization, and Iraqi art stems from this civilization.”
On her part, Egyptian actress Donia Abdelaziz expressed her joy at being present at the Baghdad Film Festival, saying to “Iraqis in the Netherlands and Europe,” “I am very happy to be in Baghdad and have the opportunity to meet with Iraqi and Arab creatives attending the festival.”
Deputy Head of the International Federation of Arab Cinema Festivals, Kuwaiti director Abdulaziz Al-Sayegh, praised the valuable efforts made to revive Iraqi cinema, providing an opportunity for Arab and foreign filmmakers to connect with Iraqi filmmakers.
At the conclusion of its activities, the Baghdad Film Festival awarded financial prizes and certificates of appreciation. The film “Farewell Julia” by director Mohammed Kurdvani won the Best Film award, while the Jordanian film “Inshallah, Boy” by director Amjad Al-Rashid won the Jury Award. The Palestinian film “Palestine 87” by director Bilal Al-Khatib and the Iraqi film “Transit” directed by Baqer Al-Rubai shared the award for Best Short Narrative Film.
Actress Zahraa Ghandoor won the Best Actress award, and Iraqi actor Raed Mohsen received the Best Actor award. The Yemeni film “The Exhausted” directed by Omar Jalal won the Best Cinematography award, and the Moroccan film “Divorcees of Casablanca” directed by Mohamed Ahd Ben Seddik received the Best Director award.
