A group of young Bahraini creatives have paid tribute to the kingdom’s resilience and community spirit with a short film tackling the massive fire that broke out in Manama Suq last year.
Amal min Alramaad (Hope from the Ashes), a 15-minute Arabic documentary with English subtitles, premiered at a recent red carpet event, culminating the third edition of Project Documentaries, an initiative by the US Embassy, in partnership with the Youth Affairs Ministry, at EPIX Cinemas, Dana Mall.
Project Documentaries is a platform providing young Bahraini students the opportunity to learn the nuances of filmmakking from industry experts.
The crew comprised producer, videography assistant and Gulf University alumni Alaa Alshowaikh, 27; director, writer and Bahrain University student Jassim Ahmed, 23; editor, writer and Bahrain Polytechnic student Sayed Mujtaba, 20; writer, decoration assistant and Bahrain Polytechnic student Mariam Abdulwahab, 22; videographer and Bahrain University student Ali Mohammed, 17 and decoration in-charge and Bahrain University alumni Muzdalifah Sayed, 27.
The film won four out of six awards presented, and features interviews with shop owners, eye witnesses and the Interior Ministry’s firemen, capturing the drama from all angles.
The film’s poster
“Our team has worked diligently to depict the events in a dramatic and compelling manner, with the help of those that were affected by the fire,” Mr Alshowaikh told the GDN. “We also highlighted the efforts of specific individuals who played a key role in saving lives and assisting people with their shops during this crisis.
“Towards the end of the film, we explored how hope was restored and life gradually returned to normal thanks to the tireless efforts of the stakeholders involved,” the Hamala resident added.
Filmed over three months, Amal min Alramaad features Indian expatriate and Alqamer tailoring shop owner Dilshad Ali, who was present on site at the time of the fire.
From left, US Ambassador Steven Bondy, Mr Alshowaikh and Youth Affairs Minister Rawan Tawfiqi at the award ceremony
“According to Ali, while he was at his shop during the afternoon, he was alarmed by the sound of screaming coming from the direction of another shop,” added Mr Alshowaikh. “Acting quickly, he rushed out, only to find himself face-to-face with the flames dangerously close to his store.
“He managed to salvage what he could from his shop but was unable to save everything before the fire engulfed it entirely. Standing helplessly, he watched as the firemen worked to extinguish the flames, but only after the fire had consumed his shop.
“In the film, Ali reflects on the incident with gratitude, saying: ‘Alhamdulillah (thanks be to God) for everything, and insha’Allah (God willing), life will improve step by step’.”
The pre-production and filming process was rife with challenges, from gathering information to getting the necessary permissions.
“After conducting extensive research alongside the team, I attended numerous meetings with various ministries and organisations to secure permissions and collect data. However, many of those affected by the incident declined any interviews, which added significant pressure as we faced a tight time frame.
Mr Ali featured in the documentary
“During the brainstorming phase, our team presented several ideas before selecting the best one. However, we faced numerous challenges, as not every idea was feasible due to the tight deadline for the competition. One of the ideas we proposed was submitted to the Youth Affairs Ministry was declined. Despite this setback, we did not give up. We continued to work diligently, conducting extensive research,” he revealed.
Eventually, Mr Alshowaikh suggested the idea of documenting the Manama Suq fire, which was approved and despite the complexity of the topic, the team took it up as a challenge.
“We were confident that it would highlight the unity and solidarity of Bahraini society surrounding this incident,” he added.
Not ones to rest on their laurels, the team has submitted the documentary to several film festivals across the Gulf region.
“We want to showcase our work, gauge audience reactions and further immerse ourselves in the cinematic scene,” explained Mr Alshowaikh. “We are very confident in our project, as it is both unique and bold in its approach.
“Following these festival experiences, we plan to work on new projects. This plan was envisioned from the very beginning of our journey as a cohesive and exceptional team.”
The GDN previously reported on the fire, which burned down 15 shops and affected more than 50 in the area in Manama Suq, after initially igniting in a multi-storey building. The blaze started in Block 432 near a number of textile shops just before 4pm, likely due to a short circuit within one of the older buildings. A total of 16 fire engines and 63 firemen and support staff were sent to the location to redirect pedestrian and vehicle traffic and tackle the blaze, which took 30 hours to bring under control. Three bodies were also discovered at the site, and around 400 shops have had to be shut down.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
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