Sharjah: Iraqi filmmaker and writer Baha Al-Kadhimi, a lecturer at University of Basra, has won the Best Arab Short Narrative Film Award for his film ‘Al-Mulla’ at the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth 2025, one of the Arab world’s most prominent festivals supporting youth creativity.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, this year’s edition featured more than 120 films from 43 countries, reflecting the festival’s growing significance on both the Arab and international cinema scene.

The film was produced by Basra Cinema Center, written by Hani Al-Quraishi, directed by Al-Kadhimi, and starred Mahmoud Abu Al-Abbas, Qasim Kazem, Youssef Salah Al-Din, and Saja Yasser. Cinematography was handled by Hussein Al-Asad, the score composed by Mohammed Al-Rassam, and post-production completed by Noor Al-Hikma Company.

‘Al-Mulla’ presents a symbolic story about a young boy named Hamid who leads a soft rebellion against the tribal chief of a remote village, a cinematic metaphor for the relationship between ruler and ruled, told through a poetic and contemporary visual language.

Al-Kadhimi stressed that this achievement reflects the synergy between academic work and artistic creativity, underscoring Iraqi cinema’s ability to compete internationally.

This year’s festival edition also marked a strategic partnership with Al Qasimia University, which hosted the opening ceremony, highlighting Sharjah’s pioneering role in supporting visual arts and nurturing young audiences’ artistic appreciation.