Dr. Ramzan bin Abdulla Al Noaimi, Minister of Information, inaugurated the fourth edition of the Bahrain Film Festival, organised by the Bahrain Cinema Club in partnership with the Ministry of Information. The festival is held during November 3- 7 at Marassi Galleria, under the theme “Celebrating Women in Filmmaking,” as part of “Manama, Capital of Arab Media 2024.”
The Bahrain Film Festival features 89 short films from across the Arab world competing in five categories: narrative shorts, documentary shorts, student films, animation, and Bahraini films. Over five days, the festival will host eight workshops and panel discussions focusing on empowering Arab women in cinema and supporting their creative contributions.
The minister emphasised that Bahrain has an established track record in cultural and creative sectors. He noted that the Kingdom’s achievements in this area were supported by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, leading to an environment for cultural advancement and creativity. This support has positioned Bahrain as a beacon of cultural excellence, hosting various cultural events and festivals throughout the year, he said.
He highlighted Bahrain’s cinematic journey, which began in the 1970s with modest resources but immense passion, establishing Bahrain’s role in the film industry.
Decades of accumulated experience have created a solid foundation and rich heritage, inspiring today’s generation of filmmakers to produce outstanding cinematic works that reflect a diversity of creative experiences, he noted.
Dr. Al Noaimi commended the festival’s theme this year, which recognises the woke of women in cinema. He said it sheds light on their remarkable contributions, opening new avenues for female creators to address social issues and aspirations while upholding cultural identity and values.
The minister thanked the organising committee, Marassi Bahrain as the main strategic partner, and the Saudi Film Commission as the development partner. He also thanked the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), Beyon, and Gulf Air for sponsoring the festival and recognising cinema support as an investment in the future of culture and the arts, wishing all participants a festival filled with creativity and excellence.
Osama Al Seif, Chairman of the Bahrain Film Festival, noted that this year’s festival has seen growth in both participants and competing films, demonstrating the festival’s maturity and enhanced artistic standards, alongside its growing appeal within the local and regional film industry.
Eric Giraud-Telme, the French Ambassador to Bahrain, commended the opportunity to contribute to the festival through specialised workshops led by French cinema experts, underscoring the strong cultural ties between Bahrain and France. He reaffirmed the French Embassy’s commitment to using France’s film-making experience to support young talents through specialised training programmes, wishing continued success for this cinematic event.
The ceremony included the screening of the Bahraini short film “Convoluted” directed by Mohammed Fareed and produced by Blue Steel Films, showcasing entirely local talent in acting and production.
The minister also honoured several artists in recognition of their outstanding contributions to cinema. Kuwaiti actor Mohammed Al Mansour was awarded for his role in the first Gulf film, “Bas Ya Bahr” (1972), along with his participation in numerous Arab and Gulf films.
Bahraini actress Mariam Ziman was recognised for her rich career and support for Bahraini cinema, including her starring role in Bahrain’s first feature film, “The Barrier” (1990). Bahraini actress Fatima Abdulrahim was also honoured for her roles in both feature and short Bahraini films.
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