Khaberni - The Palestinian Ministry of Culture mourns the actor, director, and producer Mohammed Bakri, who passed away on Wednesday at Nahariya Hospital at the age of 72 years.
The ministry stated in a statement, "The late Mohammed Bakri was a landmark in the Palestinian and Arab cultural and artistic scene, and his creative voice was powerfully present in theater and cinema."
It added, "He dedicated his creativity to defending truth and the Palestinian narrative," noting that he was honored with a national high distinction "by receiving the Palestine Appreciation Prize for Literature, Arts, and Humanities in recognition of his distinguished creative contribution."
He was also mourned by the Arab Theatrical Authority, the Royal Jordanian Film Commission, and several artists and intellectuals via social networks including the writer Ibrahim Nasr Allah and actor Salim Duw.
Bakri was born in the village of Ba'ana in the Galilee in 1953 and began his artistic career after studying acting and Arabic literature at Tel Aviv university before embarking into the world of art through theater and participating in many foreign films that gained him global fame.
He directed the documentary (Jenin, Jenin) which won the Golden Tanit at Carthage Film Days in Tunisia in 2003 and the Best Documentary Film award at the Ismailia Festival for Documentary and Short Films in Egypt in 2002. He acted in films (Laila's Birthday) by director Rashid Masharawi and (Wajib) directed by Annemarie Jacir and (The Stranger) by Amir Fakher Aldin and (Post) by director Maha Haj.
He received numerous awards from international festivals and was honored by the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt in its fifth edition in 2021 with the Creative Achievement Award.
