This evening from 7.30 p.m. onwards, Casa Árabe ends its Friday film sessions at its Madrid headquarters with a selection of six short films (total length: 108 min), works that will take us to Lebanon, Sudan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Egypt. Screenings in Original Version with Spanish Subtitles (VOSE).
These are the titles of the short films:
Al-Sit, Suzannah Mirghani (2020 / Sudan – Qatar / 20 min).
In a cotton-growing village in Sudan, 15-year-old Nafisa is in love with Babiker, but her parents have arranged her marriage to Nadir, a young Sudanese businessman living abroad. Nafisa’s grandmother, Al-Sit, the powerful village matriarch, has her own plans for Nafisa’s future. But can Nafisa choose for herself?
Cast: Mihad Murtada, Rabeha Mohammed, Mohammed Magdi, Haram Basher.
Awards and festivals (selection): Best Director at the Beirut International Women’s Film Festival, Lebanon; Best Short Film and President’s Award at the Zanzibar International Film Festival, Zanzibar; Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, France.
An Attempt, by Pamela Nassour (2021 / Lebanon / 18:26 min)
Like all Lebanese people, Alfred, a secondary school teacher, tries to adapt to the new socio-political situation brought about by the October Revolution in the country. Bombarded by the media, he ends up joining his students in the countryside to protest, in an attempt to change things.
Cast: Josef Chemaly, Dima Merheb, Antonio Chedid, Diana Noujaim.
Bint Werdan (pictured), by Maysaa Almumin (2020 / Kuwait – Qatar – Egypt / 14:01 min)
A very discouraged woman struggles to keep up appearances in front of her cheerful and motivated office colleagues. An encounter with a dying cockroach in the office bathroom turns into an absurd friendship, becoming the comforting companionship she needs until she realises the destructive effects on her life.
Cast: Enas El Fallal; Sedky Sakhr, Sandy Sawiris
Awards and festivals: Special Mention at Cinefantasy International Film Festival, Brazil; Malmo Arab Film Festival, Official Selection, Sweden.
Athel, Alyazia Bint Nahyan Al Nahyan (2020 / United Arab Emirates / 15 min)
Salma, a well-known presenter, is filming a poetry show about the pre-Islamic poet Tarfa. A sandstorm interrupts the filming of the episode and Salma’s son goes missing for days. Salma remains strangely calm: something far from reality is about to happen.
Cast: Mansoor Alfeeli, Hala Shiha.
Awards: Calcutta International Cult Film Festival; Gold Remi Award at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, USA; Best Film Award at the Al Ain Film Festival, UAE.
Sharine Atif’s Girl’s mountain (2018 / Egypt / 15 min).
Against the taboos of traditional Bedouin society, two bold and daring young women run away from home, escaping forced marriages. They embark on a journey through the Sinai desert where they make a life and death decision that will change their future forever.
Cast: Sara Somaya Abed, Jala Hesham, Fatma Kamal, Soliman El Jebaly.
Awards: Jury Special Mention Award-SHNIT Worldwide Short Film Festival, Egypt; Student Visionary Award-Tribeca Film Festival, USA; Best Film-AfriCajarc – Festival of African Cultures, France.
Give up the ghost by Zain Duraie (2019 / Jordan – Sweden – Germany / 15 min)
Salam’s dream of becoming a mother is shattered when she discovers she cannot have children with her husband. A life of conviction and belief is put to the test when Salam realises she must make a choice.
Cast: Maria Zreik, Ziad Bakri, Nibal Al Awadi, Amin Safi.
Awards: El Gouna Star for Best Arab Short Film at the El Gouna Film Festival, Egypt; Special Mention at the Malmo Film Festival (MAFF), Sweden; Jury Award for Best Actress for Maria Zreik at the Indian World Film Festival, India; Vimeo Staff Pick Award at the Palm Springs International ShortFest, USA.
