Syrian film director Mohamad Malas has won the Jury Prize for his film "Bab El Makam" at the fifth Marrakech International Film Festival, held on November 11-19, 2005.

"Bab El Makam" tells the story of a young woman, who struggles against a society which does not accept her love for singing. In the film, Malas deals with the themes of music, censorship and lack of acceptance in Syrian society. The film is based on the true story of the killing of a Syrian woman who passionately loved her family and the music of Umm Kalthoum - a passion mistaken for a love affair with another man.

Malas recently showed the film for a specially invited audience at the Freemuse/HBF Beirut conference on “Freedom of Expression in Music in the Middle East".