Silver Yusr of RedSea for Best Short Film

Kurdish filmmakers took home a Silver award for a short film at the prestigious Red Sea International Film Festival.

“I am very thrilled that the movie received an award at the Red Sea film festival, given the fact that the Red Sea is a huge festival,” Saman Hosseinpuor told Rudaw’s Payam Sarbast on Friday. 

Hosseinpuor, a Kurd from Iran, shared the Silver Yusr for Best Short Film with Ako Zandkarimi for their film Suitcase.

The film tells the story of a Kurdish refugee trying to hold onto the memories of his family while far from home. It is also in competition at the Duhok International Film Festival, which opens Saturday.

Closing Ceremony – The Red Sea International Film Festival 2023

Saman Hosseinpuor speaks on stage after winning the Silver Yusr for Best Short Film Award for ‘Suitcase’ during the Closing Ceremony

A total of 23 short movies competed for the Golden and Silver prizes.The 10-day festival featured a wide variety of international talent, including films from up-and-coming filmmakers and undiscovered gems. It hosted a selection of artists, filmmakers, and industry professionals from the Arab world and beyond. In addition to the competitions, it offered masterclasses, and workshops to support and encourage emerging talent.

The Red Sea Film Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization founded to assist the Saudi Arabian film industry with production and distribution, as well as education.