Mariam Sherif, the lead actress of the film Snow White, won the Yusr Best Actress Award for her outstanding performance as Iman, a young woman who faces bullying due to her dwarfism, at the Red Sea International Film Festival at the close of its fourth edition. Produced by ChiaroScuro Film Production and directed by Taghrid AbouElhassan, the film captivated audiences since its premiere on December 9th and 10th, with an additional screening scheduled for December 14th. It makes history by featuring the first-ever female lead from the dwarfism community in a global cinematic release.
Mariam Sherif expressed her gratitude to the Red Sea Film Festival for the recognition, saying: “A huge thank you to the festival for this incredible recognition, and to the ‘Snow White’ team for giving me this opportunity. Playing Iman was a transformative experience in my life. I learned so much from the inspiring women and the supportive workshops led by director Taghrid Abouelhassan. My hope is that Snow White will inspire others to embrace the beauty in our differences, and recognize that, at our core, we share common needs and emotions, and we all deserve equality and respect. That’s why we must work together to create a more inclusive world for everyone.”
In a reflection on this remarkable achievement, director Taghrid Abouelhassan said, “This success is an incredible honor for all of us. It’s not just the result of hard work but a realization of the vision shared by everyone who contributed to the creation of this film. With Snow White, we aimed to offer a genuine, profound, and human portrayal of little people’s lives through Iman’s journey to fulfill her dreams of love and marriage, beyond superficial appearances and societal expectations. I am deeply grateful to everyone who believed in this message, and to the creative team—actors, technicians, and all those who played a role in making this project a reality.”
Producer Mohamed Agamy, founder of ChiaroSuro Film Production, proudly shared, “We are thrilled by this recognition from RSIFF, which reflects the tremendous effort we dedicate at ChiaroSuro to create films that address meaningful societal issues. Snow White is a true representation of this vision, showcasing our commitment to telling stories that resonate with the Arab world. This recognition inspires us to keep pushing forward, producing films that address critical social topics, as we firmly believe in the power of cinema to raise awareness and drive positive change. This is why we are expanding our partnerships, including collaborations with Saudi and international production companies, to amplify this message on a global scale.”
Looking ahead, ChiaroSuro’s 2025 production plan includes three exciting new films—two in collaboration with Saudi production companies, and the third through a multinational partnership with leading global firms. These strategic collaborations are designed to strengthen ChiaroSuro’s presence in the global film industry, support the local economy by generating job opportunities, and attract international investment. Furthermore, these initiatives will diversify the audience base by presenting films that reflect the region’s social and cultural fabric, fostering the growth of the local film industry and boosting its economic impact.
TunisianMonitorOnline (TMO correspondent Douha Saafi)
