Bahrain Film Festival celebrates creativity and storytelling through short films

The fifth edition of the Bahrain Film Festival continues to draw filmmakers, artists, and cinema enthusiasts under the theme “Short Films, Great Stories.” It celebrates creativity and innovation in filmmaking while reaffirming the Kingdom’s growing role as a hub for cinematic talent in the region. Running from October 30 to November 4, the festival offers an artistic platform that merges experience, knowledge, and inspiration, showcasing the power of storytelling through short films.

The event continues to strengthen its reputation as a key supporter of national and Arab cinematic creativity. The festival opened with an engaging lineup of film screenings and specialised workshops, attracting strong audience participation. Local and Arab short films spanning drama, experimental, and animation genres were featured, including “Loop,” “A Holiday Story,” “Behind the Curtain’s Edge,” and “The Hostage.” Training workshops led by acclaimed director Karim El Shenawy and Bahraini artist Ahmed Al Bastaki explored the art of directing and visual world design.

On its second day, the festival continued with screenings that reflected the diversity of regional storytelling. Featured titles included “Not Buried Yet,” “Children of Barzagh,” “Battle of Bridges,” “Fragments of Life,” and “Is Anyone Alive?” Films addressing powerful social and human themes—such as “Thoraya,” “Stitches,” “Romantic Date,” and “Rotten Blood”—also captivated audiences. In addition to screenings, several industry-focused workshops were held. Director Rami Imam led a session titled “The Production Industry: How Great Stories Are Born on Screen,” while screenwriter Haitham Dabour conducted a workshop on “Balancing the Artistic and Commercial Aspects of Writing and Producing Film Works.”

A panel discussion on “Reflections on the HerStory Films Incubator” highlighted the experiences of Arab female directors and their contributions to independent filmmaking. The day concluded with the opening of a cinematic photography exhibition and the launch of the book “The History of Cinema in Bahrain” by Dr. Mansour Sarhan, which documents the Kingdom’s rich artistic journey and its enduring contribution to the Gulf and Arab cinematic landscape.