The 8th Baghdad International Film Festival
This edition was held on 3-5 December, 2016 at the National Theater "The edition of the great artist who's passed away Youssef Al-Ani". 2000 films submitted to the festival from fifty countries, of which 112 films participated in the six well-known competitions. This course was a cradle for the martyrs of Iraq from the "army, security forces, federal police and the Hashid" who liberated our cities from the hand of ISIS gangs that afflicted Iraq after the occupation. The opening film was "The Bodyguard" by the famous Iranian director HatamiKia. This film won the Golden Award for the Feature Narrative Competition.
The opening of the festival was attended by some ambassadors, politicians, artists and intellectuals. Iraqi cinema was celebrated by screening the feature film “The Silence of the Shepherd”, directed by Raad Mushatt. This edition has been one of the important editions in terms of qualitative cinematic participation. As the number of premieres increased by 80% – in Iraq and the Arab world – according to the reference to this percentage in the list of films participating in competitions. This was stemmed from the world’s growing confidence in the festival’s prize policy and its bias towards the subject, the style and technique of making the film with absolute impartiality.
After the finishing of the eighth edition, the festival announced, a few months later, a press release included:
We affirm once again that we have endured during thirteen years the great difficulties, and we have endured the betrayal and harm from many those hate and hostile every success. And that the logistical support by the Ministry of Culture and the simple support of some cultural institutions no longer meet the expansion, spreading and developing for the festival, whose successes and status have become demanding financial burdens that we are completely unable to meet, manage or fulfill; We are a small organization that works with its voluntary efforts, sincerity and dedication through each year.
And if we were able to hold festivals with determination, impulsiveness, sacrifice, and sincerity .. but carrying out the tasks of appropriate preparation, good preparation, hospitality, and appearance, as he must give the world confidence in the festival .. is another matter that the organization is unable to do. We demanded, explained and clarified the importance of the festival and its role locally and internationally on Iraq and the artistic movement, especially since the curators of the festival have experience, specialization, talent and a patriotic spirit determined to provide everything possible in order to continue. However, the festival has become much larger than our efforts, and the logistical support provided to us not even closely enough. The festival is now asking us for travel cards, accommodation, many invitations, prizes, contribution to youth support and the production of some films.
Since the state suffices only with its simple logistical support, the founders of the festival decided to stop and announce a broad and comprehensive press release explaining the reasons and announcing to his audience the cessation of this great cultural and artistic event. in the hope that we will continue the ninth session that was stopped, as soon as we are able to fulfill the requirements of the festival and achieve the state’s response to us and study what we have presented of an important achievement clearly as the sun.
