SIFF 2020: And The Winners Are

The sixth edition of Sudan Independent Film Festival (SIFF) came to a close with an award ceremony on Monday, 27 January 2020 at Comboni College.

The SIFF Jury Team Special Award was awarded to Sudanese filmmaker Ibrahim Ahmed, also known as Snoopy, for his film, Journey to Kenya.

The prestigious Hussein Sharif (Black Elephant) Award was awarded to Sudanese filmmakers Sadam Siddig and Yasir Faiz for their film, The Dog Shitter.

The jury included the award-winning Sudanese filmmaker Iraqi producer and film director Kasim Abid, Sudanese writer Estela Caetano, Sudanese actor and musician Mahmoud Al Saraj, Sudanese filmmaker Suzanna Mirghani and Sudanese writer Dr Fathi Osman.

SIFF 2020 opened on 21 January 2020 with screening of the Sudanese feature film, ‏Khartoum Offside by Marwa Alzain at El-Sunut Park. Held annually by Sudan Film Factory, SIFF 2020 ran until 27 January 2020 screening Sudanese films as well as international films at various locations across Khartoum.

In addition, SIFF 2020 screened the award-winning Sudanese feature films aKasha by Hajooj Kuka and Paris Stalingrad by Hind Meddeb. The following Sudanese short films were also screened:

Listen to My Dance – Alyaa Sirelkhatem 
‏A Handful of Dates – Hashim Hassan 
Mara – Mohamed Khalil 
The Dogs Shitter – Sadam Siddig 
Future – Mohamed Najib 
Winji – Ibrahim Sayed 
Who’s Paint? – Sannad Shareef 
Qurrat – Mohammed Elamin 
Leave it for Tomorrow – Mohamed Zbiday 
Journey to Kenya – Ibrahim Mohammed

All of these films were nominees for the Hussein Shariffe (Black Elephant) Award for the best Sudanese film.

In addition, SIFF 2020 screened films and documentaries from Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, UAE, Turkey, South Africa, Finland, Argentina, USA, Italy, France, Serbia and more.

In addition to film screenings, SIFF 2020 also consisted of musical performances, film workshops, lectures and more.

Celebrated as the gateway to welcoming Sudanese cinema, SIFF takes place annually on 21 January in tribute to the career and memory of the late Sudanese intellectual and artist Hussein Sharif who has made essential contributions in filmmaking, writing, poetry, translation, journalism and other forms of arts throughout his life, which extended from 1934 to 21 January 2005.

Related links: