The Moroccan short film "Aisha," directed by Sanaa El Alaoui ( سناء العلاوي ), won the Best Short Film award at the 6th Jerusalem Arab Film Festival, continuing its successful run at international festivals after a series of participations and awards that have solidified its presence on the global cinematic scene.
Director Sanaa expressed her delight at the win, thanking the Jerusalem Arab Film Festival management and the jury members for awarding her film the prize, emphasizing that this recognition is a great honor for her. In a video posted on the festival's official Facebook page, she said: "Thank you to the Jerusalem Arab Film Festival and the jury members for awarding the Best Short Film prize to 'Aisha.' This is a great honor for me." She added that the body has always been a mirror of the land, explaining that her film explores the idea of violating the body as an extension of violating the land, affirming that the land, rooted in its history and humanity, always reclaims itself, no matter how much it is violated.
Sanaa emphasized the importance of reclaiming the Arab narrative on screen, saying, "It's time to overturn the Orientalist perspective that has distorted our image and identity on screen. It's time to reclaim our voice and our camera, because the camera is not merely a tool in our hands, but an eye that refuses to submit, and no power in the world can silence that eye."
She considered the continued success of the Jerusalem Arab Film Festival as proof of cinema's strength and its capacity for resistance, before dedicating the award to the Palestinian people, saying, "I dedicate this award to the Palestinian people, and from Morocco to Jerusalem we say to you: We love you, for our roots are one and our identity is one."
"Aicha" is a short Moroccan film written and directed by Sanaa El Alaoui. It blends drama and psychological horror in a humane treatment of sensitive social issues. The story revolves around a seventeen-year-old girl with a troubled relationship with her mother, before a tragedy turns their lives upside down. The film raises questions about loss, memory, and identity. The cast includes Hind Dhafer, Manal Bennani, and Mohamed Amine Kahal. The 25-minute film is produced by Native Line.
Presence at International Festivals
The film achieved a remarkable presence on the international scene, winning the Audience Choice Award at the Africamera African Film Festival in the Polish capital, Warsaw. Sanaa Alaoui also won the Best Director Award at the Yellowstone International Film Festival in India. The film received a special mention at the Shnit International Short Film Festival, in addition to winning the Best Cinematography and Best Actress awards at the All Africa Independent Film Festival in Rwanda. It also participated in a number of prominent international festivals, including the National Film Festival in Tangier, the Holly Shorts Film Festival in the United States, and the Durban International Film Festival in South Africa.
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