The films in this shorts segment are not made for children and families, necessarily, as many of the films tackle difficult subjects, like war, classism, and violence. Instead, these films speak to one another because they each explore various experiences of childhood and/or depict the complexity of families and family dynamics. Telling the stories of children during stressful and joyful moments and considering various configurations of family relationships, the films in this series expose cruelty and locate delight in the stories they tell.
In a mythical Sudanese village between the desert and the Nile, a young boy enjoys an idyllic childhood, taking pleasure in the fertile fruits of the land and basking by the river. But the boy's precious world begins to unravel when he learns the disturbing truth behind his family's fortune and a certain farmer's inevitable demise.
Festivals and Awards
Sudan Independent Film Festival, Sudan, 2020
Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival, USA, 2020
Toronto Lift-Off Global Network Film Festival, Canada, 2020
Luxor Film Festival, Egypt, 2020
About the filmmaker
Hashim Hassan received his B.A. in Middle East Studies from UC Santa Barbara and his M.F.A. in Directing from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. A Handful of Dates is his fourth short film and his first filmmaking venture in Sudan. Hassan is currently a freelance video producer serving local businesses and nonprofits in California’s Central Valley, while also pursuing his passion for writing, acting, and directing in TV and film.
- Year2020
- Runtime11 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountrySudan
- DirectorHashim Hassan
- ScreenwriterIssraa El-Kogali
- ProducerMamdooh Salih
- MusicDexter Story
The films in this shorts segment are not made for children and families, necessarily, as many of the films tackle difficult subjects, like war, classism, and violence. Instead, these films speak to one another because they each explore various experiences of childhood and/or depict the complexity of families and family dynamics. Telling the stories of children during stressful and joyful moments and considering various configurations of family relationships, the films in this series expose cruelty and locate delight in the stories they tell.
In a mythical Sudanese village between the desert and the Nile, a young boy enjoys an idyllic childhood, taking pleasure in the fertile fruits of the land and basking by the river. But the boy's precious world begins to unravel when he learns the disturbing truth behind his family's fortune and a certain farmer's inevitable demise.
Festivals and Awards
Sudan Independent Film Festival, Sudan, 2020
Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival, USA, 2020
Toronto Lift-Off Global Network Film Festival, Canada, 2020
Luxor Film Festival, Egypt, 2020
About the filmmaker
Hashim Hassan received his B.A. in Middle East Studies from UC Santa Barbara and his M.F.A. in Directing from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. A Handful of Dates is his fourth short film and his first filmmaking venture in Sudan. Hassan is currently a freelance video producer serving local businesses and nonprofits in California’s Central Valley, while also pursuing his passion for writing, acting, and directing in TV and film.
- Year2020
- Runtime11 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountrySudan
- DirectorHashim Hassan
- ScreenwriterIssraa El-Kogali
- ProducerMamdooh Salih
- MusicDexter Story