More than 500 film-lovers are expected to gather next week for the second edition of Bahrain’s Student Film Festival, highlighting emerging filmmaking talent in the kingdom.
Thirteen short films will be showcased at Al Liwan Cinema as part of the event on Tuesday, October 20, alongside a first-of-its-kind Film Pitch Expo, in which up-and-coming filmmakers will pitch and crowdfund their projects in front of the community.
“Last year was about proving that a cross-university student festival could exist,” festival director Mujtaba Hasan told GulfWeekly.
“This year, we’ve moved from showcasing films to helping make them.
“We ran development labs that supported student productions with sponsor backing.
“We added a Pitch Expo where unshot films can raise funding. We believe it is the first event of its kind in Bahrain, and it relies entirely on the community getting behind the next generation of filmmakers.
“And we’re building Industry Connect to link students with working professionals.”
This year, the festival is also set to have a bigger stage - twice the size of last year’s attendance.
The 13 films being showcased this year were made by student filmmakers in 2025 and 2026, and selected from a pool of 38 submissions from six universities across the kingdom.
“The jury of industry professionals selected the 11 strongest films for the competition and also decided the awards,” Mujtaba added.
“Two further films in the programme came out of Student Film Festival Bahrain’s own initiatives - one from our filmmakers lab and one from a script competition hosted by the festival, bringing the programme to 13 films.”
Doors and the red carpet open at 4pm, with screenings starting at 6pm in Halls 6 and 7, followed by an awards ceremony at 9pm. All films will have English subtitles.
According to Mujtaba, the festival has given students an incentive to put more into their films, which translates into more practice, experimentation, and a wider filmmaking community in Bahrain.
“What’s still missing is a pathway that lets students work on bigger, more ambitious projects that can compete regionally and internationally,” he added.
“That’s the gap we are trying to close.”
For more details, follow @sffbahrain on Instagram.
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SHORT FILMS TO BE SCREENED
Ancient Land - Mohammed Almusawi
A visual poem from the heart of Bahrain and a journey through childhood memories, fishermen, palm trees, and old streets slowly fading with time.
2:17 - Ahmed Alawi
Trapped on a surreal bus where time has stopped, a conflicted student faces the darkest corners of his mind in a final bid to save himself from emotional paralysis.
Between Two Shores - Dania Janahi
A young girl raised in a strict household discovers the truth about her past and crosses the sea in search of her real mother.
Detective Sameer - Ali Radhi
When their father’s donkey goes missing, three brothers come under suspicion, prompting Detective Sameer to take on the case and uncover the real thief.
Only One - Jassim Ahmed
After a violent car accident, two friends find themselves in a mysterious void, facing a pill capable of bringing only one person back to life.
Petrol - Mariam Al Bahrani
A short documentary about gas station workers, exploring their lives and the challenges they face.
Pride of a Fighter - Jafar Al Aradi
A man struggling to take care of his sister has to do whatever it takes to get her back.
The Last Dream - Ahmed Isa
In an old Bahraini village, a family is drawn into a nightmare when their child’s recurring dream summons an unwanted creature.
Turncoat - Ali Al Haddad
Saleem, betrays his own morals for a glimpse of the future from a company causing controversy.
Hachwa - Mahmood Al Sebea
A creative exploration of well-known folk sayings through dramatised scenes that uncover their meanings, origins, and the historical contexts behind them.
What Walks Among Us - Mohsin Ali
A naive Western tourist in Bahrain accepts hospitality from a local Bahraini family, only to suspect something dark behind their generosity.
Eggs and Tomato - Marwa Zainuddin
Saad is mistaken by his elderly neighbor Bu Ali for his late son and plays along, eventually bonding over shared plates of eggs and tomato.
Analog Media: Film Photography - Jafar Al Aradi
Ammar Mashkoor walks us down and breaks down the importance of film photography.
