MAD Solutions to showcase eight films at 15th Malmö Arab Film Festival
With a diverse lineup spanning intimate stories and political narratives, MAD Solutions continues to champion Arab cinema on the international stage.
MAD Solutions is set to present eight standout titles from its diverse distribution slate at the 15th Malmö Arab Film Festival, running from April 29 to May 1. The selection includes five short films and three features, all competing in the festival's official competition, with their directors expected to attend.
Leading the feature film lineup is Diaries from Lebanon by Myriam El Hajj, a personal and political reflection chronicling four tumultuous years in Lebanon. Premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, the film is both a national memoir and a meditation on resilience amid chaos.
Also featured is the dark comedy Thank You for Banking with Us, by Palestinian filmmaker Laila Abbas. The film centres on two estranged sisters attempting a heist to secure their inheritance in the wake of their father's death. Starring Clara Khoury and Yassmine El Massry, the film had its world premiere at BFI London and its MENA premiere at El Gouna Film Festival.
Hind Meddeb's Sudan Remember Us rounds out the feature selection with a poignant documentary on youth resistance in Khartoum. From moments of joy to exile and repression, the film—acclaimed after its Venice premiere—captures a defining chapter in Sudanese history.
The short film offerings begin with Upshot by Maha Haj, a Palestinian drama that unfolds on a remote farm where a couple's fragile relationship is shaken by a stranger's arrival. The film was awarded the Pardino d'Oro at Locarno Film Festival.
Nya by Imene Ayadi, set during Algeria's 1994 civil war, follows a young girl's innocent wish for her father's return amidst escalating violence. The film has travelled extensively on the festival circuit, including stops in Algeria, the Netherlands, South Africa, and France.
Yasir Faiz's Bougainvillea portrays the resilience of six women imprisoned during Sudan's 2018 revolution, while Abu Judy by Adel Ahmed Yehia, an Egyptian short, tells the emotional story of a father-daughter bond tested by sudden adversity. Premiering at the Cairo International Film Festival, it explores the complexities of childhood and familial love.
The final entry, Loss by Rami Kassis, is a harrowing account of migrants travelling through the desert, based on true events. The film premiered at Tunisia's Carthage Film Festival.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Broadcast Pro
43 minutes ago
- Broadcast Pro
SAFAR Film Festival returns for 10th edition
The festival continues through June 28, wrapping up with the UK premiere of 'Sudan, Remember Us' (2024), directed by Hind Meddeb. The SAFAR Film Festival has returned to the UK for its 10th edition, opening with the newly restored version of Hassan Al-Imam's 1972 Egyptian classic Watch Out for Zouzou, marking its UK premiere at Ciné Lumière in London. The festival, which runs until June 28, continues its mission of bridging cinematic heritage and contemporary Arab storytelling, celebrating both nostalgia and innovation through its selection of films from South West Asia and North Africa. This year's programme reflects a strong interplay between the past and present, aiming to offer audiences a sense of continuity in Arab cinema. In addition to reviving iconic works such as Watch Out for Zouzou, the festival hosts a residency with Egyptian artist Bahia Shehab, who will collaborate with emerging creatives to produce video essays exploring the legacy and evolution of Arab stardom. The closing night will feature the UK premiere of Sudan, Remember Us (2024), directed by Hind Meddeb—a poignant documentary chronicling the lives impacted by the Sudanese conflict. The theme of generational memory and political reckoning resonates throughout the festival, as films span decades, regions, and emotional terrain. One such film, Agora, explores the mystery surrounding three people who return from the dead in a quiet Tunisian town, while Across the Sea traces Nour's life from 1990s Morocco to France, navigating the trials of love and belonging. Urgent present-day realities are depicted in A State of Passion, which follows British Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah working in Gaza's overwhelmed emergency hospitals amid relentless bombings. Palestinian stories hold a central place in this edition, with a dedicated strand including a masterclass by celebrated actor and filmmaker Mohammad Bakri, screenings of archival footage from early 20th-century Palestine accompanied by live music, and a broad spectrum of documentaries, essays, and fiction centered on Palestinian experiences and resistance. The programme also reflects on the traumas of Syria's ongoing crisis with My Memory is Full of Ghosts and commemorates 50 years since the start of Lebanon's civil war with a special online programme curated by Lebanese cultural platform AFLAMUNA. As part of this remembrance, the festival will present a restored screening of the elusive modern classic Phantom Beirut. This year's SAFAR also turns to the land itself as a narrative space, with films and discussions tackling colonial histories (After the Sun) and celebrating environmental storytelling. A selection of short films on biodiversity, curated in partnership with the REEF Film Festival, forms part of a growing eco-conscious strand, led by SAFAR Futures alumni and new assistant curators Amina Ali and Sally Zarzour. In a deeply personal contribution, SAFAR co-founder Saeed Taji Farouky reflects on the recurring motif of ghosts that threads through the festival—from the Egyptian horror classic Fangs to displaced memories and lost homes—and will host a communal tea ritual as a gesture of collective healing and solidarity. Beyond its festival window, SAFAR continues to support Arab cinema's theatrical presence across the UK, offering audiences a chance to revisit or preview key works. This includes access to previously screened titles like Layla, set in a vibrant queer context, as well as early looks at upcoming UK releases such as the introspective Red Path and the festival's closing documentary Sudan, Remember Us. The festival also features a compelling mix of stories highlighting diverse Arab lives and voices: The Tale of Daye's Family follows a young Nubian albino aspiring to sing despite social resistance; The Village Next to Paradise portrays the resilience of Araweelo in Somalia; Thank You for Banking With Us unites two estranged Palestinian sisters pursuing their inheritance; Seeking Haven for Mr Rambo takes viewers through Cairo as Hassan searches for safety for his dog; and Saify offers a darkly comic reflection on capitalism and religion in 1990s Saudi Arabia. Marking a decade of cultural dialogue through film, this edition of SAFAR offers a bold and emotionally resonant panorama of Arab cinema, engaging with memory, identity, resistance, and imagination across generations and borders.
Campaign ME
a day ago
- Campaign ME
L'Oréal Paris redefines ‘Sit Al Bait' in empowering Middle East campaign
L'Oréal Paris, in collaboration with FP7 McCann Dubai, McCann Paris, and Current Global MENAT, has launched a new campaign under its Women of Worth platform — rolling out across the Middle East. Rooted in cultural nuances of the region, the campaign builds on L'Oréal's long-standing commitment to women's empowerment — while challenging the language that continues to shape female identity in the region. The campaign's out-of-home presence debuted in Beirut, with upcoming rollouts in Riyadh, Dubai, and across the region. Further activations are planned to continue building on the long-term vision behind Sit Al Bait. The hero film features actress Yasmine Sabri and actress Aseel Omran, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with women across the region. As the narrative unfolds, we see them take to the streets, displaying the power of words that makes all the difference in the messaging – two missing Arabic letters 'al' that transform the meaning of the words 'sit bait' (housewife) into 'sit al bait' (woman of the house), rewriting the narrative, and restoring value to the unseen labor of millions of women. Commenting on the campaign, Christian Bou Khalil, Marketing Director MENA, L'Oréal Paris, said, 'Sit Al Bait is more than a cultural phrase, it is a statement that speaks to the very core of our brand's values: empowering women to define themselves on their own terms.' Christian Bou Khalil, added, 'We are proud to challenge narratives and elevate the evolving role of women in society as leaders, changemakers, and visionaries. It's a reminder that empowering women begins by recognizing the value they already hold—because they're worth it.' In a region where cultural expectations have long cast women primarily in the role of caregiver or housewife, this L'Oréal campaign is a timely reminder that women can be, and already are, so much more: leaders, visionaries, entrepreneurs and changemakers. They can be whatever they decide to be. A new study by L'Oréal Paris reveals that more than half (53 per cent) of men and women in the Middle East believe the term 'housewife/sit bait' does not entirely reflect the evolving role of women in 2025. Additionally, a series of focus groups further revealed a stronger emotional response to the 'Sit Al Bait' phrasing, with participants describing it as a 'badge of honour' and 'a way to finally feel seen'. 'My late mother raised me to ignore any label or name calling that shrinks us. Arab women run their lives and their homes with power and precision. Yet we're often pushed into the background and told to take pride.' said Manar Munjed Abdulla, Associate Creative Director at FP7 McCann. She added, 'With this campaign, I wanted to reclaim worth, and to help other women do the same. I knew the change would make some people proud and others uncomfortable. But it was necessary to break a cliché and rewrite our place in the world. Because no one else will do it for us.' CREDITS Client Marketing Director MENA Christian Bou Khalil SAPMENA CPD General Manager Adrien Koskas Global Brand President Delphine Viguier-Hovasse Deputy General Manager SAPMENA CPD Khalid Dugmag General ManagerSAPMENA Juliana Gómez H Senior Vice President Global Image & Content Olivier Monteil Deputy General Manager – Global Martin Crosnier International Marketing Director – South Asia Hub Chih-Ying Chang Hub Director – MENA Nadine Fouad International Project Manager – Emerging AME Hub Nay Sader General Manager Consumer Products Middle East Ahmed Wagih General Manager – GCC Elsa Kalaydijiane Brand Business Lead – GCC & Levant Sara Sakaya Brand Advocacy Manager Hiba El Assir Corporate Affairs & Engagement Director – Middle East Jihane Bachir Group PR & Advocacy Director, Corporate Affairs & Engagement Zeina Haddad Managing Director – Lebanon Emilie Wahab Head of Brands – Lebanon Christelle Khoury Creatives Regional Chief Creative Officer: Federico Fanti FP7 McCann Dubai Global Chief Creative Officer: Julien Calot McCann Paris Executive Creative Director: Nayaab Rais FP7 McCann Dubai Global Executive Creative Director: Rob Brown McCann Paris Creative Director: Eric Groza FP7 McCann Dubai Head of Arabic: Manar Munjed FP7 McCann Dubai Art Director: Anton Stolpovskii FP7 McCann Dubai PR Manager Roksar Kamal FP7McCann MENAT Copywriter: Daniel Zaldumbide FP7 McCann Dubai Associate Creative Director: Rob Hall FP7 McCann Dubai Creative Operations Director Cynthia Sarkis FP7 McCann Dubai Senior Creative Ops Coordinator Christina Abouzeid FP7 McCann Dubai Creative Excellence Manager Sofia Serrano FP7 McCann Dubai Senior Finalizer Rahim FP7 McCann Dubai Senior Finalizer Ahmed Nadeem Client Service Nima Askari General Manager FP7 McCann Dubai EVP Global Business Director Lisa Conway McCann Paris President / EVP Global Leader L'Oréal Charlotte Franceries McCann Paris Account Director: Dalia Hosny FP7 McCann Dubai Miral Saad FP7 McCann Dubai Account Manager: Freddy George FP7 McCann Dubai Account Executive Eman Sami FP7 McCann Dubai Account Director MCP Sabrina Rodreguiez McCann Paris International Account Manager: Shruti Namibar McCann Paris
Sharjah 24
a day ago
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah Institute for Heritage welcomes Maldives Ambassador
Strengthening cultural relations Dr Al Musallam stated: 'We were pleased to host the Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives at the Institute, which was a valuable opportunity to explore avenues of cooperation in the field of intangible cultural heritage and to exchange expertise in preserving and documenting oral traditions and folk tales. We also handed over the official invitation for the Maldives to be Guest of Honour at the 25th edition of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum, as a reflection of our deep appreciation for the rich Maldivian culture.' He continued: 'The Narrator Forum has become a global platform celebrating storytellers and memory keepers from various cultures. The Maldives' participation this year will bring fresh dimensions to the forum with legends and folktales drawn from the sea and islands—narratives that resonate deeply with our Gulf maritime heritage.' A Warm Maldivian response For his part, H.E. Mohamed Hussain Shareef expressed his deep appreciation for the invitation extended by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and praised Dr Al Musallam's efforts in building bridges of cultural communication between peoples. He noted that the Maldives being chosen as Guest of Honour at the Forum represents a unique opportunity to present Maldivian heritage to both Arab and international audiences. He added that the Maldives possesses a rich trove of stories, legends, and oral traditions inspired by its island and marine environment, making its forthcoming participation a meaningful contribution to the cultural landscape and a driver for cross-cultural dialogue. Cultural coordination ahead of "Narrator 25" During the visit, a short documentary was shown about Maldivian Heritage Week 2021. Both sides discussed potential cultural cooperation and the Maldives' anticipated role in the forum. Dr Al Musallam also presented a selection of the Institute's publications that spotlight Emirati and Gulf cultural heritage—particularly in the areas of oral storytelling and folk narratives—highlighting the cultural connection between the maritime traditions of the UAE and the Maldives. At the close of the meeting, the official invitation was formally delivered, naming the Maldives as the Guest of Honour for the 25th edition of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum. Tour of the institute His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam accompanied Ambassador Shareef on a tour of the Institute's facilities, showcasing specialised departments and permanent exhibitions such as the Storytelling Centre, the Arab Heritage Centre, the World Heritage Hall, the Reference Library and Archives, and the Manuscript Restoration Laboratory. During the visit, the Ambassador was introduced to the Institute's major initiatives and research projects focused on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and documenting oral traditions. He expressed admiration for the Institute's institutional and methodical efforts to preserve collective memory. A Quarter century of storytelling Launched 25 years ago, the Sharjah International Narrator Forum began as a pioneering cultural initiative dedicated to storytellers, oral historians, and guardians of intangible heritage from around the world. Over a quarter of a century, the forum has established itself as an international platform celebrating folk narratives and preserving oral memory through scholarly sessions, heritage performances, and interactive programmes that blend authenticity with innovation. Organised annually by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the forum attracts a distinguished group of researchers, practitioners, and cultural institutions specialising in intangible heritage. Each edition features a new thematic focus and honours outstanding figures who have contributed to the preservation of folk narratives, making the forum a defining event on the Arab and international cultural calendar.
