Browse films

A Handful of Dates

Hashim Hassan
Sudan, 2019, 12 min.

In Arabic with English subtitles.
This film is family friendly.

AIFF Award Winner:
Jury Award for Creative Achievement

In a mythical village between the desert and the Nile, a young boy enjoys an idyllic childhood, taking pleasure in the fertile fruits of the land and basking by the river. But the boy's precious world begins to unravel when he learns the disturbing truth behind his family's fortune, and the harsh reality of a certain farmer's inevitable demise.

Director's Statement

We are proud to present this short film as a social and cultural project. The cultural effects of the film are present in the content of the story, as it poignantly reflects Sudanese culture, heritage, traditions, history, and literature. As a social project, the aim will be to enrich and enhance the artistic and professional capacities of aspiring artists in Sudan as well as to a worldwide audience - hopefully by taking the film to international film festivals and cultural events, we have a chance to engage in creative exchange and cultural relations with global communities that may otherwise not know about the authentic culture of Sudan. This is our love letter to a country and a people now undergoing a revolutionary shift in consciousness and identity - ideas that we hope storytelling plays a significant role in expressing.

Category: Award Winner, Drama, Best of Fest.
Themes: Africa, Culture, Community, Family, World Cinema.

More in Award Winner

  • The Girl in the Woods

    The Girl in the Woods

    James Ryan
    United States, 2024, 96 min.

    Widowed farmer Malcolm Gardner leads a solitary life on the edge of a secluded forest. On a stormy night, a mysterious 10-year-old girl emerges from the woods... more ›

  • Monument

    Monument

    Jeremy Drummond
    United States, 2025, 17 min.

    Monument pairs hand-processed, chemically-altered Super 8mm film footage of the decaying monuments of Presidents Park (Croaker, VA) with original and... more ›

  • Disco Beats

    Disco Beats

    Ken Arquelio
    United States, 2025, 19 min.

    Disco Beats is a tender exploration of two men who connect through the language of dance. Lou (played by Pepe Serna), an 80 year old who’s never... more ›