Fez — Egyptian filmmaker Sarah Goher’s “Happy Birthday” has won the Grand Prix at the 14th edition of the Dakhla International Film Festival, which closed on Wednesday evening in southern Morocco.
The debut feature stood out for its sensitive treatment of childhood, labor, and class inequality.
Set against the backdrop of Cairo’s social divide, the film follows a young working girl whose hopes collide with the realities of a wealthy household.
The award adds to the film’s growing international recognition. “Happy Birthday” previously won Best International Feature, Best International Script, and Best Female Director at the Tribeca Film Festival.
A regional competition with social themes
The Dakhla festival’s fiction jury awarded the Jury Prize to the Moroccan film “Bribes,” directed by Janane Fatine Mohammadi and Abdelilah Zirat. Tunisian actor Hilmi Dridi won Best Actor for his role in “Round 13.”
The Best Actress Prize was shared by Kholoud Betioui for “Bribes” and young actress Doha Ramadan, who plays the central role in “Happy Birthday.”
Nine feature films competed in the fiction category, including works from Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, and Tunisia.
The jury was chaired by Malian filmmaker and thinker Manthia Diawara. Its members included Moroccan actress Nisrin Erradi, Nigerian filmmaker Aïcha Macky, Norwegian cinema expert Anders Tangen, and Filipino filmmaker and producer Christian Paolo Lat.
Palestinian documentary wins top prize
The Grand Prix went to the Palestinian film “Bliatcho Gaza” by Abdelrahman Sabah.
The Jury Prize was awarded to the Ugandan documentary “Memories of Love Returned” by Ntare Guma Mbaho.
The documentary jury also awarded special mentions to “Déchirure” by Fouad Souiba, “The Other… Raeburn” by David Pierre Fila of Congo, and “The Departure” by Mohamed Fadel Joumani.
Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir chaired the documentary jury, joined by Burkinabe filmmaker Éléonore Yameogo, Swedish actor and producer Said William Legue, and Italian filmmaker Guido Pappadà.
Dakhla as a cinema meeting point
This year’s festival brought together 19 films representing 21 countries from Africa and the Middle East.
The program included screenings, panels, workshops, master classes, animation films for young audiences, and a Moroccan cinema panorama.
The closing ceremony also paid tribute to Moroccan actress Souad Khouyi, Egyptian screenwriter Medhat El-Adl, and Moroccan producer Fouad Challa.
Organized by the Association for Cultural and Artistic Animation of the Southern Provinces, the Dakhla International Film Festival continues to position the city as a space for artistic exchange.
