British-Palestinian filmmaker Farah Nabulsi’s short film 'The Present' wins BAFTA

British-Palestinian filmmaker Farah Nabulsi has won a coveted award for Best Short Film at the 2021 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards.

Nabulsi's directorial debut short film The Present won the award, which was announced virtually due to coronavirus restrictions.

Speaking of her win in her acceptance speech, she said: "Amazing!"

"For anyone who has seen The Present… you would know why I dedicate this award to the people of Palestine for whom freedom and equality is long, long overdue," she added.

The Present tells the story of Yusef (Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri) who, along with his little daughter Yasmine, goes to buy an anniversary gift for his wife.

During his trip in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, he has two negative encounters with Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint.

The film was nominated for an Oscar and was written by Nabulsi and Palestinian-American poet and director Hind Shoufani.

People online took the opportunity to celebrate the win, and discussions erupted about the way Israel treats Palestinians.

Twitter Post

"This was a beautifully simple and subtle film showing obliquely the pain of institutional racial discrimination imposed on innocent human beings Well done," Twitter user David Bernard Roger wrote.

"Well deserved. Great work by @farah_nabulsi !," another user tweeted.

"In a short duration of about 20 minutes, Farah has encapsulated the pain and suffering of the Palestinians under the brutal occupation forces of IDF."

"May this wonderful, moving film by @farah_nabulsi help people understand the dehumanising reality of life under occupation," said a third.

"And may that understanding lead us closer to its end, and towards a lasting peace and dignity for all Palestinians."

Born and raised in London, Nabulsi is the daughter of a Palestinian mother and a Palestinian-Egyptian father.

Nabulsi worked as a stockbroker and later at JP Morgan before she changed her career to filmmaking following a trip to Palestine in 2013.

Three years later in 2016, she founded a not-for-profit media production company called Native Liberty Productions which focused on Palestinians.

The Present is currently streaming on Netflix.