The short film ''Simo'' by Canadian-Egyptian director Aziz Zermba won the Best Film award at the Plein(s) Écran(s) festival which is broadcast on social media platforms.

The jury said they chose this 23-minute short film ''for its bravery and the amazing mastery it emanates from. A film that improves with every viewing and always gains significance in facing current global tensions. Since its release, its journey has been impressive; this short film did not leave anyone indifferent. We could only add our voice to its admirers.''

The list of winners for the eighth edition of this festival was announced during a ceremony held yesterday, Saturday, the penultimate day of this cultural event which started on January 16.

This win allows the director to obtain a grant consisting of post-production services and free rental of film production equipment. Its total value amounts to $12,000.

This festival specializes in short films and is held exclusively online on Facebook, Instagram, and the ''Patreon'' site specializing in social funding for artists.

According to the festival organizers, it provides ''high-quality content for free to as many people as possible online and through social media.''

This makes the festival ''a unique experience allowing the general public to interact with the content and artisans despite the physical boundaries separating them from the cultural presentation. The festival allows and, more broadly, what festivals usually do, to connect creators with the audience.''

The festival also aims to promote and globally disseminate cinema from the Quebec province.

The festival organizers expressed pride in the number of views recorded by the festival for the short films participating in this edition.

Thirty-two short films by filmmakers from Quebec province were screened. Aziz Zermba's film, ''Simo,'' garnered more than 150,000 views.

Screening accompanied by commentary
Last Thursday, the festival audience was able to watch the short film ''Simo'' not online but in a cinema hall in Montreal in the presence of some members of the film team such as director Aziz Zermba, actors Basel Al-Rais and Alaa Eddin Tawfiq, and film music specialist Ilia Ghafouri.

What distinguished this screening was the live commentary accompanying it where the screening was paused for the director or a team member to talk about how a scene was directed or how the actors managed to perform their roles.

The film's events take place in Montreal about two teenage brothers of Egyptian origin. The rivalry between them takes a dangerous turn when ''Simo'' sneaks into his older brother Emad's video game channel live on air.

Due to stereotypes stuck to young people of Arab origin from the second generation of immigrants in Western societies, the film's events escalate because of a word ''Simo'' jokingly says while participating in an online video game.

 The young director explained in press statements to media that he made the film ''Simo'' to confront stereotypes held against the Arab community.

The story shows ''how these stereotypes are entrenched in society and how a joke on the internet can lead to different reactions because of your name or identity.''

Aziz added that directors and producers, for example, must consider national developments when choosing actors to play roles of Arab characters.

''Individuals from one family cannot speak different Arabic dialects in the film,'' he said. According to him, this mistake stems from ignorance and indicates a kind of racism.