Palestinian Director Ward Kayyal’s FIN Wins Short Grand Prix at the Warsaw International Film Festival

release date October 20 2025

Palestinian filmmaker Ward Kayyal has won the Short Grand Prix at the 41st Warsaw International Film Festival for his moving short film FIN, which captivated audiences and jurors alike with its haunting portrayal of numbness, distance, and collective helplessness in the face of atrocities in Gaza.

Starring Ziad Bakri — best known for SCREWDRIVER, which was nominated for Best Film at the Venice International Film Festival, as well as Netflix’s THE WEEKEND Away — FIN is a gripping single-take short that explores the numbing helplessness felt by those outside Gaza in the face of ongoing genocide.

On a stormy night, a man walks through Haifa’s empty streets, trying to light his cigarette in vain under the heavy rain. As the flame fails him again and again, something happens that he does not foresee.

While receiving the award in Warsaw, Ward Kayyal added ,“Thank you to the jury. The war in Gaza may be over, but the genocide is not. Gaza is still under siege. Humanitarian aid is not entering. No food, no water, no schools, no hospitals, and no homes in Gaza. For 30 years, the people of Gaza will sleep under the rain, and we all know that Israel will return to the war. That’s why we must not leave Gaza alone at this time. Free Palestine.”

With MAD World handling worldwide sales and MAD Distribution in charge of distribution across the Arab World, the Palestinian short features cinematography by Ashraf Dowani, editing by Nour Abu Kamal, and sound design by Elias Abd El Malek. It is produced by Donna Hawwa under WK Production.

Ward Kayyal is a 29-year-old film director from Palestine. He completed his cinema studies in 2022. His first short film, HAMZA: CHASING THE GHOST CHASING ME, premiered at the Cairo International Film Festival and went on to screen globally. Currently writing his first feature and developing his third short film, Kayyal is dedicated to enriching the Palestinian art scene by addressing political and social issues through the lens of community engagement.