A Bahraini short film deriding elements of the media accused of manipulating the truth has won the hearts of judges at an international festival.
The Governor, directed by Jaffar Alakrawi, with cinematography by his namesake Jaffar Alhalwachi, was screened at the Festival International De Medenine in Tunisia to much acclaim.
The 16 minute-long film took second place in the ‘documentary and short films’ category and was shot last year in Bahrain after its director turned his Eker house’s rooftop into a movie set.
Poster of the short Bahraini film The Governor
“It is because we recognise that cinema is a world born out of the minute details, and it’s near impossible to gain such a world without creating it!” said Mr Alakrawi.
Filmed without dialogue, the voices may have been silent but the message came loud and clear during the seventh edition of the event which featured 18 films from 13 different countries.
Mr Alakrawi said the idea behind it was inspired both from his previous work entitled Almintaqat Alramadiy (Grey Area) and ‘Lie and then lie till the people believe you’ – the statement used to describe Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels’ ideology, suggesting that if you repeat a lie often enough it becomes the truth.
“The Governor is symbolic,” the man behind the lens added. “With every frame of the film, there is a meaning, a symbol, a message.
“The majority of the film is set in a small room. The set was built above the director’s home. The usual process is to shoot on an established film set, but Jaffar and his team built everything from scratch,” said Mr Alhalwachi.
Prior to The Governor, the Bahraini director also worked on multiple films such as Qf Alsufr (Zero Stop) and Alkitab (The Book).
He believes there are many creative talents in Bahrain ready to ‘smash’ the international stage but often they need financial support and community backing to achieve their dreams.
Despite his own success he admits to struggling to find sponsorship for his next project titled Rihlat Ealaa Dahr Altimsah (A Trip on a Crocodile’s Back) due to budget costs needed to serve the vision of the writer and film director.
Mr Alhalwachi agrees there is a lack of cinematography education in the region to encourage budding young filmmakers to come up with new content. However, he remains hopeful for the future: “The recent Nasser Bin Hamad International Youth Creativity Awards recognises the artistic potential of the youth. I just hope that there will be a push, not just for awards, but for local courses taught in cinematography institutions.”
The film crew at work
The Governor has won many other awards, including the best short film jury award in the Falcon GCC Short Film Competition 2021, and the directors are working to screen the film in Bahrain provided they get any form of collaboration from entities concerned.
Mr Alhalwachi’s message to budding filmmakers is to continue to develop their talent as best they can and not give up, even if a lack of support is proving challenging.
“If it is your passion, just do it,” he said.
hussaina@gdn.com.bh
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