The festival's top awards went to Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers.
Israeli filmmaker Iris Zaki's Egypt, a Love Song was named the best documentary, while Palestinian Mohammed Almughanni from the Gaza Strip won the best short film award for Jaffa Orange.
Both also received accolades for their screenplays. The winners, recognized during a period of armed conflict in the Middle East, underscored the symbolic significance of their films.
Zaki, in her acceptance speech, expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemned the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Smutniak's film, meanwhile, lauded for its direction, offers a personal account of her journey to the Polish-Belarusian border, adding a Polish narrative to the festival's theme of international dialogue and understanding.
(jh/gs)
Source: IAR
