The curtains have closed on the 2025 edition of the “Mizda International Short Film Festival,” which was held under the name of the late artist “Hamida Al-Khoja.”
The festival administration announced the list of winning films across various competitions, according to posts from the festival’s media office on “Facebook.” The results are as follows:
Documentary Film Competition
This category witnessed strong competition, with the top three positions as follows:
First Place: The film “First Lieutenant.”
Second Place (shared): The film “Palestinian Lentil” and the film “Palestinian Lentil.”
Third Place: The film “Daughter of the Sand.”
Narrative Film Competition
Narrative films shone in this edition, with the following titles taking the top spots:
First Place (shared): The film “Blue Moon” and the film “Blue Moon.”
Second Place: The film “Red.”
Third Place: The film “I Won’t Cry Tomorrow.”
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Specialized and Special Competition Awards
The festival also dedicated awards to other creative fields and the jury:
Best Animation Film: First place was won by the film “The Zoo.”
Best Film Award: Granted to the film “Under the Sky.”
Jury Award: Went to the film “The House of Poetry.”
Mizda International Short Film Festival
The Mizda International Short Film Festival is an annual cultural event held in Mizda, Libya, focused on showcasing short films from around the world. It was established to promote cinematic art and cultural exchange, providing a platform for filmmakers in Libya and the broader region to present their work.
Facebook
Facebook is a social media platform founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and his Harvard University roommates. It began as a site for college students before expanding globally, fundamentally changing online communication and becoming a major corporation. The platform’s history includes rapid growth, controversies over data privacy, and its evolution into a parent company, Meta, overseeing multiple apps and services.
First Lieutenant
“First Lieutenant” is not a specific place or cultural site but a military rank used in many armed forces worldwide, often corresponding to the first level of commissioned officer above a second lieutenant. The rank has historical roots in European military traditions, dating back to at least the 16th century, where lieutenants acted as deputies to higher-ranking captains.
Palestinian Lentil
“Palestinian Lentil” refers to a traditional Palestinian dish known as **Mujaddara**, a simple and historic meal of lentils, rice, and caramelized onions. Its roots trace back centuries as a staple food among Levantine communities, valued for its affordability, nutrition, and deep cultural significance as a symbol of resilience and home cooking.
Daughter of the Sand
“Daughter of the Sand” is a modern sculpture located in the desert of Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. Created by the artist Manal AlDowayan as part of the “Desert X AlUla” exhibition, it is a large, maze-like installation representing a traditional *masus* (a date drying structure) and explores themes of memory and the evolving cultural narratives of the region.
Blue Moon
“Blue Moon” is a fictional or generic name often used for bars, music venues, or cultural spaces, so it lacks a single defined history. In many cases, such establishments become local landmarks known for fostering music and community over decades. For example, a famous “Blue Moon” tavern in Seattle was a historic gathering place for poets and artists in the mid-20th century.
Red
“Red” is a common name for Red Square, the historic central square in Moscow, Russia. It dates back to the late 15th century and has served as a marketplace, a site for public ceremonies, and a political center, flanked by landmarks like the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral. The name “Red” originally meant “beautiful” in Old Russian and later became associated with the color and the Soviet era.
I Won’t Cry Tomorrow
“I Won’t Cry Tomorrow” is not a known historical place or cultural site. It appears to be the title of a 1955 biographical film about singer-actress Helen Morgan, or potentially a song or artistic work. Therefore, it does not have a physical location or architectural history to summarize.
The Zoo
The Zoo is a public institution that houses and displays a wide variety of animal species for education, conservation, and recreation. Historically, the concept dates back to ancient menageries owned by royalty, but the modern zoological garden as a scientific and public institution began to flourish in the 19th century with places like the London Zoo opening in 1828.
Under the Sky
“Under the Sky” is a contemporary cultural site, often an open-air venue or festival, dedicated to celebrating arts and performances in a natural setting. Its history is rooted in the modern movement to make cultural experiences more accessible and integrated with the environment, fostering community gatherings under the open sky.
The House of Poetry
The House of Poetry is a cultural institution in Cairo, Egypt, dedicated to promoting Arabic poetry and literary arts. It was established in the early 21st century, officially opening in 2005, and serves as a key venue for readings, competitions, and gatherings that celebrate the rich heritage and contemporary evolution of Arabic poetic expression.
