Join us for a virtual conversation with Sahim Omar Kalifa, director of BAGHDAD MESSI, which is Iraq’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025. BAGHDAD MESSI was adapted from his short film of the same name which was shortlisted for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2013 Academy Awards. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, and has won over 115 international awards.
We will discuss the film and his process in adapting it from his short film of the same name, working across nations and co-productions, the international film industry, as well as his past work which has included shorts, features, and documentary films.
Sahim Omar Kalifa
Award-winning Filmmaker
About Sahim Omar Kalifa:
Sahim Omar Kalifa (1980 Zakho – Iraqi Kurdistan) is a Belgian-Kurdish filmmaker living in Belgium. He came to Belgium in 2001 and obtained a Masters in Filmmaking from Sint-Lukas Film School – Brussels in 2008. He has won more than 115 international awards so far. His short film ‘Baghdad Messi’ has won over 60 international awards.
‘Bad Hunter’ also won several international awards at major film festivals, including the Jury Prize at the 59th Valladolid, 38th Montreal World, Dubai IFF and Flickerfest Film Festival.
In 2017, his documentary ‘Cornered in Molenbeek’ won the Best Belgian Documentary TV award at the Docville Documentary Film Festival. The documentary was also selected for the Toronto HotDocs Documentary Film Festival – Official competition.
The feature-length version of BAGHDAD MESSI has so far been selected for several film festivals, including the 25th Shanghai FF, 45th Cairo FF, 63rd Zlin Film Festival, Luxembourg FF, 42nd Abitibi FF, 28th Schlingel FF, 43rd Dutch FF. The film won 3 top prizes (Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay) at the 26th Arpa Film Festival in Los Angeles. Winner: Best Film by the Youth Jury at 28th Schlingel Film Festival – Main Competition. Also nominated for the ENSORS (Flemish Academy Awards) for Best Director. Official opening film of 10th Duhok International Film Festival, the largest and best Kurdish film festival in the world.
His last documentary film (IRAQ’S INVISIBLE BEAUTY) was selected as the opening film for the Docville documentary film festival in Belgium. Docville is the biggest and best documentary film festival in Belgium. Also selected for the Red Sea and 26th Shanghai Film Festival. The film was nominated for the ENSORS (Flemish Academy Awards) for Best Documentary. Winner Best Kurdish Documentary Film – 10th Duhok International Film Festival. Winner Best Documentary Film at the 14th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival – India. Winner Best Documentary Film (Golden Dragger) at the 11th Muscat International Film Festival.
Sahim is now working on 3 feature films.
IMPORTANT DETAILS:
This panel will take place virtually over ZOOM. Ticket purchasers will receive a ZOOM link to this panel 2 hours before the published start time. If you don’t already have the ZOOM app, please make sure to download on your device before the panel start time.
If you purchase an All-Access Pass for our December Festival events prior to the date of this panel, you will also receive admission to this virtual panel, included as part of your pass.
If you are a current Annual Member of NFMLA, please email info@nfmla.org to receive a complimentary ticket to this panel. If you are not an Annual Member of NFMLA and would like to join, you can become a member here.
