Final Cut in Venice, which supports the completion of films in post-production from Africa and selected Arab countries (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen), concluded its 13th edition (August 31 – September 2) within the framework of the Venice Production Bridge, held during the Venice Film Festival.

For the ninth consecutive year, the La Biennale di Venezia Award, worth €5,000, was presented to recognize the best project in post-production. The jury, composed of Fatih Abay (European Film Academy), Nathalie Jeung (Kinology), and Claudio Rapino (Maestro Distribution), honored The Station by filmmaker Sara Ishaq (a co-production between Yemen, Jordan, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Qatar). The judges emphasized that the film “is an example of authentic gender empowerment, portraying women as complex and capable individuals who face their realities with agency and dignity, challenging the reductionist Western gaze on these regions.” In addition to the main award, Ishaq’s project received further support from Titra Film (up to €10,000 in post-production services), RAI Cinema (€5,000 for preferential negotiation rights for broadcasting in Italy), Sub-Ti Ltd (€7,500 for a DCP master with subtitles), and Sub-Ti Access (€7,500 for accessibility, including subtitles for the deaf and audio description).

The documentary My Semba, by Angolan filmmaker Hugo Salvaterra, also came out strongly with four major awards: color correction and sound mixing services valued at €30,000, the Coup de cœur de la Cinémathèque Afrique recognition (non-commercial broadcasting rights valued between €4,000 and €6,000), and a €2,500 grant from the Fribourg International Film Festival to create a DCP copy.

Meanwhile, House of the Wind (La Maison du Vent) by Auguste Kouemo Yanghu (Cameroon/Benin/France/Belgium) received €20,000 in visual effects services and access to Mnemonica’s cloud platform. At the same time, Let’s Play Soldiers (working title) by Mariam Al-Dhubhani (Yemen/Qatar/Norway/France) secured a minimum guarantee of $10,000 with MAD Solutions, in addition to $5,000 and an invitation to CineGouna from the El Gouna Film Festival.

Other projects also received support in this edition: Out of School, by Hind Bensari (Morocco/Denmark), was awarded €7,500 from the Red Sea Fund and the Amiens International Film Festival; Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep, by Rakan Mayasi (Belgium/Lebanon/Palestine), obtained music services from Oticons valued at €10,000; Standing at the Ruins, by Saeed Taji Farouky (Egypt/UK), received €10,000 in sound-mixing services from 196-MEDIA; and Legacy, by Mamadou Dia (Senegal/France), will benefit from a €5,000 reimbursement for post-production services from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie.

All the winners:

La Biennale di Venezia Award
The Station – Sara Ishaq (Yemen/Jordan/France/Germany/Netherlands/Norway/Qatar)

Supporters’ jury

Laser Film Award
My Semba – Hugo Salvaterra (Angola)

Studio A Fabrica Award
My Semba – Hugo Salvaterra

Cinémathèque Afrique “Coup de cœur” Award
My Semba – Hugo Salvaterra

Festival International du Film de Fribourg Award
My Semba – Hugo Salvaterra

Titra Film Award
The Station – Sara Ishaq

RAI Cinema Award
The Station – Sara Ishaq

Sub-Ti Ltd Award
The Station – Sara Ishaq

Sub-Ti Access Award
The Station – Sara Ishaq

M74 Award
House of the Wind – Auguste Kouemo Yanghu (Cameroon/Benin/France/Belgium)

Mnemonica Award
House of the Wind – Auguste Kouemo Yanghu

MAD Solutions Award
Let’s Play Soldiers – Mariam Al-Dhubhani (Yemen/Qatar/Norway/France)

El Gouna Film Festival Award
Let’s Play Soldiers – Mariam Al-Dhubhani

Red Sea Fund Award
Out of School – Hind Bensari (Morocco/Denmark)

Festival International du Film d’Amiens Award
Out of School – Hind Bensari

Oticons Award
Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep – Rakan Mayasi (Belgium/Lebanon/Palestine)

196-MEDIA Award
Standing at the Ruins – Saeed Taji Farouky (Egypt/UK)

Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie Post-production Award
Legacy – Mamadou Dia (Senegal/France)