MIXTAPE

Narrative Short Film | Bahrain

Written and directed by Ali Esbai, Mixtape is a coming-of-age short film about music, brotherhood and the discovery of unexpected talent.

Saloom, a mischievous young Bahraini boy from a modest background, pretends to be sick to avoid school and spends the day listening to his older brother’s beloved mixtape. When he accidentally ruins the cassette, a confrontation with his brother leaves him desperate to make things right.

Unable to repair the tape at a local music shop, Saloom sets out to recreate its contents from memory. What begins as an attempt to replace something precious becomes a journey of musical discovery, revealing a talent he never knew he possessed.

Rooted in Bahraini culture and the nostalgia of cassette tapes, Mixtape celebrates the power of music to inspire creativity, connect generations and help us discover who we are.

Festival Recognition

Jury Award, Gulf Cinema Festival, Oman

Screened at festivals and cultural events across the GCC and Canada, including Sharjah’s Xposure and Dubai’s Vinyl Souk.

Cast

Abdulla Swayid, Nawaf Alsherajdi, Naser Albus aidi and Reem Ahmed, with a special appearance by Flipperachi.