Egyptian Short Film Wins Palm Springs Shortfest Award, Now Eligible to be Submitted For Oscar Nomination
Last February, we reported that Farida Zahran’s short film “Youth” is on its way to the SXSW 2019 Film Festival. Today, we’re reporting a huge win for Youth as it has just won the award for “Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under” at Palm Springs Shortfest 2019. The winner of this award receives a $2,000 cash prize and becomes eligible for submission to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science to be considered for inclusion in an Oscar nominee slot.
The Palm Springs International ShortFest is the largest short film festival in North America. It is a highly competitive festival that receives around 5000 submissions from over 100 countries around the globe. Approximately 325 shorts are selected and screened in 90-minute themed programs.
The short drama film is about a teenager who finds herself in new territory after she decides to approach her crush at a party. When they end up alone in his car, she is pushed to consider her own boundaries for the first time. When you watch it, you’ll love the acting of Yasmeen El Hawary and the promising young actor and writer, Ahmed Hosny.
The film is only 11 minutes long but a lot of effort has been put into it. It’s directed, written, and edited by Farida. The film was produced by Leah Chen Baker and Enas Al Khashab, while the executive producer was Alia Khairat.
