MUMBAI: Indian documentary Inshallah Football bagged a special mention award at the 7th Dubai International Film Festival that wrapped up with a glittering ceremony on 19 December.

Directed by Asvin Kumar, Inshallah Football documents the true story of 18-year-old Basharat Baba aka Basha, a talented footballer selected to play professional football in Brazil. However, the dream gets distant when Indian authorities denied him a passport. The rason: his father happens to be a former militant, a reason enough to punish.

The festival played host to 157 films from 57 countries that included an array of contemporary Arab cinema, a competition focused on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Arab world, Asia and Africa.

For the first time, the Dubai Fest presented the Muhr Emirati Awards for excellence in filmmaking to UAE filmmakers. Fourteen films made by UAE nationals competed in the first Muhr Emirati, shortlisted from more than 30 entries. Malal by Nayla Al Khaja bagged the Best Muhr Emirati film.

Actors Sean Penn, Sabah and Souleymane Cisse were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards.