Feature Film competition

Baghdad Messi

IRAQ, BELGIUM | 88 min | 2023

The talented Hamoudi is an 11-year-old boy with a passion for soccer and an ultimate dream to one day reach the level of his idol, Lionel Messi. When Hamoudi becomes involved in a gruesome suicide attack, he wakes up heavily wounded in the hospital. While his parents do everything to bring the family to safety, Hamoudi is determined to fight for his shattered dream.

Director:

Sahim Omar Kalifa

Screenplay:

Kobe Van Steenberghe

Cinematography:

Anton Mertens

cast:

Ahmed Mohammed Abdullah, Zahraa Ghandour, Atheer Adel

production:

Hendrik Verthé

Director:

SAHIM OMAR KALIFA

Born 1980 Zakho, Iraqi Kurdistan, Sahim is a Belgian-Kurdish filmmaker based in Belgium. In 2001, he came toBelgium, and in 2008 he got his Master’s degree in filmmaking at Sint-Lukas Film School, Brussels. Kalifa has won 96 international awards with his short films Land of the Heroes, Baghdad Messi, and Bad Hunter. The biggest achievements so far are: A-Jury Prize as Best Short film for ‘Land of the heroes’ at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival – Generation. B- ‘Baghdad Messi’ was shortlisted for the 87th Academy awards, the Oscars. It was one of the 10 finalists. C- ‘Bad Hunter’ was also shortlisted for the 88th Academy awards, the Oscars. ‘Bad Hunter’ won also several international Awards at some important film festivals, like Jury Award at 59th Valladolid, 38th Montreal World, Dubai IFF and Flickerfest International Film Festival. 2014, Sahim was chosen in Istanbul as Best Kurdish film director. In 2016 Sahim became a member of the Academy Awards ‘ The Oscars’. He can vote for the Oscar awards summer 2016, Sahim had filmed his debut film ‘Zagros’ which has been supported by Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds (VAF), Dutch Film Fund and Eurimages

View