THE FIRST ever Sahar International Short Film Festival delighted audiences with films from freelancers around the world at the Millgate Arts Centre in Delph last month.
The festival offered around 60 films in all genres from filmmakers from Europe, Asia, America and Africa throughout the day.
Non-competition films thrilled viewers while the audience voted at the end of the day for their Best Films.
The winners were Hunger Strike by Saddleworth filmmaker and Festival Director Mandana Ansari, The Right to Remain Silent by London-based David Hennessy and Life Inbetween by Jones Levenson of the USA.
The awards were presented by award-winning Manchester writer Billy Cowan, who interviewed the successful directors on the stage at Millgate Arts Centre.
Hunger Strike is a 3-minute drama based on the true story of Iranian Green movement human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh.
The Right to Remain Silent is a 10-minute drama which David Hennessy told the audience is based on an original script by him inspired by a book he read which explores the effect on relationships caused by a prison sentence.
Life Inbetween is a drama featuring a philosophical discussion between an elderly woman and a young intruder to her house.
Festival director Mandana Ansari said: “The Festival provided a platform for filmmakers working professionally, but with small budgets, to have their work screened.
“The award winners were selected from 16 films which had not been screened at other festivals. Outside of competition, another 45 films were shown during the day.”
Mandana explained the date of the festival was chosen to coincide with International Mother Language Day as she believes cinema is a strong universal form of communication.
She added: “Short films deserve more attention in their own right and to be taken more seriously by the film industry and audiences.”
For further information please email saharfilmfestival@gmail.com or telephone 07534 404477.
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