Bahraini filmmaker Zahraa Shams is set to release a new short film later this year that delves into family dynamics, loss, remembrance and the courage to begin anew.
Written and directed by the 27-year-old, the eight-minute film was shot in Sicily, Italy, in partnership with KODAK as part of the Terre de Cinéma (TDC) programme, an initiative that combines a film festival with hands-on training for young and emerging filmmakers, directors and cinematographers.
‘One, Two ,Three, Jump’ follows Elena, a young woman who returns to her family home to reconnect with her younger brother, Matteo, and settle the remnants of their shared past. As grief and unresolved emotions surface, Elena faced the painful reality of what her life has become.
“I applied to the programme in October 2024; but I was a bit late and was placed on a waiting list,” Ms Shams told the GDN. “I was accepted this year and attended from September 4 to 21. It taught me so much about myself and really challenged me.”
One of her biggest obstacles was the tight schedule. “Each director only has one day – 12 hours – to shoot their film,” she said, adding that she just had three days to prepare everything from the actors, locations, art direction and more. “I even had to shoot some scenes in a single take. It was, surreal, but it served the story well.”
It was also Ms Sham’s first time shooting on film, which required careful planning. “We had a limited number of film rolls, so I rehearsed several times with the actors and camera before actually shooting,” she explained. “Once the camera started rolling, we were all completely present. That was the most beautiful part.”
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