The film "Six Weeks" from Hungary, directed by Noémi Véronika Szakonyi, won the Grand Prize for Best Feature Film at the 16th edition of the International Women's Film Festival in Sala, which concluded on Saturday in Morocco. The jury awarded a special prize to the film "Black Bird Black Bird Black Berry" directed by Georgian filmmaker Elene Naveriani, while the award for Best First Work went to the American film "Fancy Dance," directed by Erica Tremblay. The jury also gave a special mention to the Moroccan film "Divorced from Casablanca," directed by Mohamed Ahed Bensouda.
In the documentary film competition, the Grand Prize was awarded to "Seven Winter Chapters in Tehran," directed by German filmmaker Steffi Niederzoll. The jury also acknowledged the Canadian film "Chromosome - Big Sister," directed by Habiba Toure and Jim Donovany. The Moroccan feature film "Demrikan Lottery," directed by Hicham Rekraki, won the Audience Award.
Festival director Abdellatif Al-Asadi stated during the closing ceremony held at Hollywood Cinema: "We bid farewell to this edition after accumulating a wealth of experiences and achievements, establishing new gains to support freedom of expression, cultural diversity, and gender equality in cinema." He added, "This year we hosted contemporary Mexican cinema, a cinema that continually renews itself, in support of Mexican identity to free it from the dominance of American culture." He continued, "This edition, like its predecessors, but with a reinforced focus, has solidified and affirmed the cultural aspect of our festival, reflected in the signing of books related to women's cinema and aesthetic issues, as well as seminars, meetings, and workshops aimed at training youth and encouraging their interest in women's issues and rights in general."
The festival, organized by the Abi Raqraq Association, started on November 13th with over 30 films participating.
