The screens of Iraqi cinema have regained their brilliance, and the exhibition halls are once again filled with the launch of the first Baghdad Film Festival yesterday, Saturday, amid a significant Arab presence. Among the artists attending the opening at the Al-Mansour Cinema were Egyptian actress Ilham Shahin, Kuwaiti actor Muhammad Al-Mansour, Syrian actor Fayyad Qazaq, and Iraqi actress Suha Salem.
The festival, which will run until February 14, is named after Iraqi director Muhammad Shukri Jamil (86 years old), who received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the opening ceremony "in appreciation of his rich contributions over decades." The festival also honored Iraqi actors Qasim Al-Malak and Sami Qaftan with the same award.
Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities Ahmed Fakkak Al-Badri stated, "Many events would have been forgotten and vanished without the presence of cinema; cinema is history, science, art, taste, and beauty. This is why major cities and prestigious towns compete to hold these festivals and competitions." He added that "Baghdad now embraces this great festival with the presence of cinema giants and icons of beauty."
The festival, organized by the Iraqi Artists' Syndicate in collaboration with the Cinema and Theater Directorate, showcases 11 feature films, 16 short films, 10 documentaries, and 11 animated films from about 14 countries, in addition to 10 recently produced Iraqi films in the "New Cinematic Spaces" section. The festival was opened with the Sudanese film "Goodbye Julia," directed by Muhammad Kordofani and starring Iman Youssef, Siran Riyak, and Nizar Jumaa.
