Sultan-penned 'Khorfakkan' wins Best Feature Film Award in Italy

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The film 'Khorfakkan,' written by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan BIn Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and produced by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority in 2020, continues to wow audiences and win top awards in film festivals around the world. The latest honour to come its way is the Best Feature Film Award at the 8th Vision Film Festival held in Italy after competing with a large number of international films in this category.

The Vision Film Festival of Italy is regarded well by the international website, IMDB, dedicated to world cinema and television. 'Khorfakkan' was screened this week at the Vigano Theatre in Rome for the Vision Film Festival audiences, after it was translated into Italian. The film evoked strong applause from the audience at the Vigano Theatre, which can accommodate more than 500 spectators.

Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, the executive producer of the work, received the award on behalf of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the writer of the film. The film also won the award for the best direction.

Speaking on the occasion, the SBA Director General stressed that through such films the Authority sought to highlight the history of the Emirate of Sharjah in one of the most defining stages in its history. Khalaf pointed out that the film 'Khorfakkan' has wowed and been immensely popular with the Emirati and Arab audiences, and under the directives of its author, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, has been translated into a number of international languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.

The film has also been screened in Saudi Arabia, Portugal, and Italy. He added: “A creative work the size of the film, 'Khorfakkan,' deserves to be a model for the Emirati and Arab film industry, as it is a film based on historical facts that His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has painstakingly researched and documented.

The film mirrors historical reality. His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah has also published an extensively researched and documented book titled, 'Khorfakkan’s Resistance to the Portuguese Invasion – September 1507 AD, February 1534 AD' through Al Qasimi Publications in Sharjah.”

He stressed that the film's success and continued winning of hearts and awards in international festivals, both in the East and West, is a testament to the insightful vision of the Sharjah Ruler in defining the true image of Arab culture, its historical roots and the size of its contribution today to the creative industries. The film, 'Khorfakkan' is the most important production of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, produced in cooperation with Jet Go Films Limited. It is directed by Irish director Maurice Sweeney and Ben Mall of Britain.

Ashraf Ali is the film’s artistic producer. The film’s production involved more than 300 professionals. It is worth noting that the film, 'Khorfakkan,' is currently available as part of inflight entertainment on a number of national and Gulf airlines, in addition to Miraya, the digital platform of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority.