Four MAD films to compete at Durban International Film Festival
Four films from MAD Solutions are set to compete at the 46th edition of the Durban International Film Festival, taking place in South Africa from July 17 to 27. The selection includes A Promised Sky, Sudan, Remember Us, Samia and Aisha Can't Fly Away, all of which bring distinct stories from across the Arab and African worlds.
Tunisian director Erige Sehiri's A Promised Sky will make its African premiere in the festival's Feature Competition section. Fresh from its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, the film follows the lives of three immigrant women, Marie, Naney and Jolie, living together in Tunis. Their bond deepens as they take in Kenza, a survivor of a shipwreck, only to find their newfound family challenged by personal and collective crises. Featuring performances by Aïssa Maïga, Deborah Christelle Lobe Naney and Laetitia Ky, the film will screen on July 27 at 7:15 pm at Suncoast 8.
In the Documentary Competition, Sudan, Remember Us by Hind Meddeb offers a powerful portrait of Sudanese youth resisting military oppression through art and poetry. The film follows four activists, Shajane, Maha, Khatab and Muzamil, as they voice their defiance against dictatorship with stirring verses and protest. The documentary will screen on July 20 at 2:30 pm at Suncoast 8 and again on July 23 at 7 pm at Suncoast 5.
Aisha Can't Fly Away, directed by Egypt's Morad Mostafa, also arrives after a world premiere at Cannes and will hold its African premiere at Durban. Though not in competition, the film tells the story of Aisha, a Sudanese caregiver living in Cairo who is determined to change her fate. As she navigates the undercurrents of migration, crime and racism, her resilience is put to the test. The cast includes model Buliana Simon and rapper Ziad Zaza, with cinematography by director of photography Mostafa El Kashef. Screenings are scheduled for July 20 at 11:30 am and July 26 at 7 pm, both at Suncoast 5.
Yasemine Şamdereli's Samia, based on a true story, chronicles the life of a young Somali girl who dreams of becoming an Olympic runner while confronting social restrictions in Mogadishu. Her journey, driven by passion and defiance, offers a deeply inspiring narrative. The film stars Ilham Mohamed Osman, Fathia Mohamed Absie, Fatah Ghedi and Elmi Rashid Elmi, and will be shown on July 20 at 5 pm at Pavilion 12 and again at the same time on July 27 at Ballito Junction.
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