Our Visions shorts program returns to once again to showcase outstanding, world-class short films by some of the most talented filmmakers of the day. This year's program features four beautiful shorts about different types of relationships: friendly, familial and romantic. Each vignette brings something unique to the table whether it is a story not often told or a style not often seen.
Shams, an Uber driver in Jeddah, is a single mother with two obsessions: her only child, Makki, and her African desserts. Shams struggles to convince Makki to follow the traditional path of marriage and to show any interest in her desserts. In fact, Makki’s passion unravels as he decides to participate in a hip-hop competition, which could lead to winning an extended trip to France and separate them for the first time in their lives. Shams is forced to decide which is more important: losing her son or finding herself.
Festivals & Awards:
Palm Springs International ShortFest 2021
Red Sea International Film Festival 2021
About the filmmaker:
Faiza Ambah is an award-winning writer/director/producer and former Washington Post correspondent based in Saudi Arabia. Her directorial debut short film, MARIAM (2015) won numerous international awards, including being showcased at UNESCO in Paris, the Scottish Parliament, and is continually being screened at universities around the world. Faiza was also involved in the production of SANCTITY (Berlinale 2013), AVE MARIA (Cannes, Oscars 2015) and A GAZA WEEKEND (TIFF 2022)
- Year2021
- Runtime26 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountrySaudi Arabia
- DirectorFaizah Ambah
- ScreenwriterFaizah Ambah
- CinematographerLasse Ulvedal Tolbøll
- EditorAntoine Rodet, Jad Dani Ali Hassan
- Sound DesignRobert Farr
Our Visions shorts program returns to once again to showcase outstanding, world-class short films by some of the most talented filmmakers of the day. This year's program features four beautiful shorts about different types of relationships: friendly, familial and romantic. Each vignette brings something unique to the table whether it is a story not often told or a style not often seen.
Shams, an Uber driver in Jeddah, is a single mother with two obsessions: her only child, Makki, and her African desserts. Shams struggles to convince Makki to follow the traditional path of marriage and to show any interest in her desserts. In fact, Makki’s passion unravels as he decides to participate in a hip-hop competition, which could lead to winning an extended trip to France and separate them for the first time in their lives. Shams is forced to decide which is more important: losing her son or finding herself.
Festivals & Awards:
Palm Springs International ShortFest 2021
Red Sea International Film Festival 2021
About the filmmaker:
Faiza Ambah is an award-winning writer/director/producer and former Washington Post correspondent based in Saudi Arabia. Her directorial debut short film, MARIAM (2015) won numerous international awards, including being showcased at UNESCO in Paris, the Scottish Parliament, and is continually being screened at universities around the world. Faiza was also involved in the production of SANCTITY (Berlinale 2013), AVE MARIA (Cannes, Oscars 2015) and A GAZA WEEKEND (TIFF 2022)
- Year2021
- Runtime26 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountrySaudi Arabia
- DirectorFaizah Ambah
- ScreenwriterFaizah Ambah
- CinematographerLasse Ulvedal Tolbøll
- EditorAntoine Rodet, Jad Dani Ali Hassan
- Sound DesignRobert Farr