The film "Bride's Pool," directed by Lebanese filmmaker Bassam Breish, won the award for Best Feature Film at the third edition of the Jerusalem Arab Film Festival, which concluded today, Sunday, at the Palestinian National Theatre "Al-Hakawati."
Breish stated in a recorded message broadcast after the announcement of the results: "This award comes from a place I was raised to love, I love it every moment and I follow it every moment. I see how much insistence there is, how much resistance there is, and how there is a world that loves life despite everything that is happening. Therefore, this award means a lot to us and to everyone who worked on this film."
The jury awarded its special prize to the Egyptian film "19 B," directed by Ahmed Abdallah and starring Sayed Raghab, Ahmed Khaled Saleh, Nahed Sabahi, and Fadwa Abed.
In the long documentary category, the main award, named after the late journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, went to the Sudanese film "Heroic Bodies," directed by Sara Suleiman.
The jury also awarded a special prize to the film "Little Palestine" by director Abdallah Khateeb and commended the Iraqi film "Take Me to the Cinema," directed by Baqir Jafar.
In the short narrative films competition, the award was given to the film "Palestine 87," directed by Bilal Khateeb, while the jury prize went to the Egyptian film "He Is Dead Now," directed by Tarek Al-Sharibini.
The jury praised the Iraqi film "Transit," directed by Baqir Al-Rubaie.
Following the announcement of the awards, the film "Under the Tree," directed by Areej Al-Sahiri, was screened. This film was submitted by Tunisia for the competition for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film last year.
