Al Hammali wins award for Best Picture at Film Festival
A heart-wrenching portrayal of the lives of carriers in Souq Waqif, Al Hammali, was winner of the THIMUN Qatar Northwestern Film Festival’s award for Best Picture.
The five-minute film by Amal Al-Muftah featured Mahmoud Ghasemi, Gholam Ahmed, and Mohamed Abdolrahim, three Iranian men who arrived in Qatar as teenagers in the 60s, working as hotel porters and Kandaris (water carriers). Forty years later, they continue to carry a heavy load at work as well as in their every-day lives as expat labourers.
The film, which also won the People’s Choice Award by YouTube viewers and the festival audience, was nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Story, Best National Picture, and Best Picture.
“We walk past the Hammali in Souq Waqif every day and barely see them, but through the film I was able to help their voices reach people, particularly in Qatar,” said Al Muftah, a student in her last week at Qatar Academy and who was recently accepted into Northwestern University in Qatar.
Al Muftah also won an award of QR10,000, which was presented by Everette E Dennis, Dean and CEO of Northwestern University in Qatar.
“Effective entertainment can make audiences smile or cry, but it certainly causes them to ponder. The nominees for this year’s festival awards communicated their subjects’ stories powerfully, and whether they won an award or not, they have all created an impact,” said Dennis.
The three-day annual festival was sponsored by Northwestern University in Qatar and THIMUN Qatar-a partnership programme between Qatar Academy and The Hague International Model United Nations Foundation. The event was created to encourage high school students to use film as a tool to advocate for social change and development.
The film Madrassa was selected as the Best Picture, Runner Up, while Maker’s Mind was selected for the Best Poster.
Future Steps was awarded for Best Editing and Qatar Water Crisis for Best Cinematography.
Other award winning films - A Victim for Best Sound, Masoom for Best Story, Enviro-Man for Best Junior Film and The Forgotten for Best National Film.
In its third international edition, the festival convened student directors from countries around the world to attend workshops and take part in skill-building exercises, including a 24-hour team challenge to develop the best short film in one day.
Just a thought....a suggestion...
Wouldn't it be generous for Ms. Muftah to donate that QR 10,000 prize to the men who appeared in her video?
Maybe it would help them visit their families or contribute to ease of their suffering.