Kalba Short Plays Festival comes to an end

The closing ceremony took place at the Cultural Centre in Kalba and was attended by notable figures including Sheikh Saeed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, who is the Deputy Head of the Ruler’s Office in Khorfakkan, and Abdullah Al Owais, who chairs the Department of Culture and is also the festival's chairman. Ahmed Burahima, the Festival Director and head of the Theatre Department, was present as well, along with many local artists and guests from Arab countries.

The winners of the festival were revealed by a panel of judges led by artist Walid Omran from the UAE. The jury also included members from Syria, Egypt, Morocco, and the UAE: Thamer Al-Arabid, Enas Ezzat, Hisham Shakib, and Abdullah Al-Khadim.

The winners

Best Theatrical Performance Award: "Without Certainty," directed by Faisal Musa.

Best Director Award: Hamid Mohammed Abdullah, for "You Are Not a Neighbor."

Best Scenography Award: "Punishment Square."

Special Jury Award: "The Blind Men."

Best Actor Award: Ahmed Bakr, for "Good Evening."

Best Actor Award: Mohammed Hisham, for "Without Certainty."

Best Actor Award: Mansour Al-Zaabi, for "Death."

Best Actress Award: Halima Al-Aissawi, for "Crime on Goat Island."

Best Actress Award: Waad Tariq, for "Without Certainty."

Best Actress Award: Heba Deeb, for "Good Evening."

The 12th edition of the festival kicked off on September 26th, showcasing 14 performances chosen from 34 submissions by a special committee. In addition to the performances, the festival held an exciting discussion forum called "The Role of Short Plays in Developing Directing Skills." They also celebrated the 11th edition of the Sharjah Theatre Research Forum and paid tribute to artist Abdul Hamid Al Balushi, naming him the "Festival Personality." The event attracted theater professionals from various countries, including Egypt, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, and Jordan.