A film about a Yazidi couple preparing for their wedding, which is then attacked by Daesh, has won the top prize at the 13th Dubai International Film Festival’s (Diff) Muhr Awards. The Dark Wind, by director Hussein Hassan, received the Muhr Best Feature, which comes with a Dh200,000 cash prize.
“I did not expect to win the best feature award. I want to thank the jury for choosing my film,” said Hassan, speaking in Arabic. “I’m very excited. Each time I go to a festival I get into the mood of making another film. I will use my prize money for the pre-production of film about a teacher in Kurdistan. I had to stall the project because of finances. Now I can restart work on it.”
Another big winner of the night was Emirati director Abdullah Al Kaabi, whose debut feature, Only Men Go to the Grave, went home with the Dh75,000 Muhr Emirati Best Feature.
Shaikh Mansour with the winners during the Muhr Awards ceremony in Dubai. (Image Credit: A.K Kallouche/Gulf News)
“I dedicate the award to all the filmmakers across the world who are trying to make films,” said a beaming Al Kaabi, whose Khaleeji film explores, among other themes, an intimate relationship between two women. “Just like the Diff motto is bridging cultures and erasing divides, I want as many people to see this movie. My film carries the noble message of peace and tolerance."
“I have worked so hard and the universe pays you back by this amazing appreciation,” he added. “I knew I was competing against very talented filmmakers, especially in the short section. But then I realised we are not racing cars. This is for all of us.”
The awards, which were set up to champion filmmaking talents in the Arab world and beyond, were given at a gala to mark the closing of the eight-day festival.
A Maid for Each, a documentary about the plight of domestic workers in Beirut, scooped the Best Non Fiction Film in the Muhr Feature for director Abi Samra, who also received Dh100,000.
“We have seen 18 films and we were especially impressed how filmmakers could find time to shoot difficult scenes,” said Ulrike Ottinge, the head of the Muhr Feature jury, about the winning film. “We are full of respect for them.”
“The films we have seen as a jury surprised us with their audacity and tenacity,” said Egyptian filmaker Yousry Nasrahallah, the head of the Muhr Emirati Competition jury.
Lebanese actress Julia Kassar won the Muhr Feature Best Actress for her role as Therese, a woman struggling to come to terms with her brother’s death and husband’s infidelity, in the romantic drama Solitaire. Muhr Feature Best Actor was Ali Sobhi for Ali, The Goat and Ibrahim, about a man who falls in love with a goat.
Muhr Shorts Best Film went to We Are Just Fine Like This by Mehdi M Barasaoui, about an old man who is passed around by his adult children.
Other awards were given in various catergories including Muhr Gulf Short (Fiction and Non-Fiction), Muhr Best Director and Special Jury Prize Muhr Feature (Fiction or Non- Fiction).
“Each year the competition is getting tougher and tougher as filmmakers are pushing their limits in search of unique angles to deliver contemporary narratives. Standards were extremely high this year with a stellar selection of high quality work - the jury certainly had its work cut out in selecting the 2016,” said Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Diff Artistic Director, in a statement.
Meanwhile, student Viraj Asher took home the 2016 Young Journalist Award, instituted by Diff and Gulf News. This year saw eight journalist hopefuls attempt to cover various aspects of the festival with the winner, presented by Mohammed Almezel, the Managing Editor of Gulf News, getting a chance to intern with the daily newspaper.
“I am very proud to see our continuing relationship with the Dubai International Film Festival produce young talents with great potential,” said Almezel. “We are looking forward to help them polish their skills in the newsroom and give them the platform to flourish in the media.”
