Latest news with #LailaAbbas
Broadcast Pro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Palestinian film ‘Thank You for Banking With Us!' to premiere in Spain
The film is a joint German-Palestinian production that delves into themes of female empowerment and familial struggle. Palestinian filmmaker Laila Abbas's first feature film, Thank You For Banking With Us, is set to have its Spanish premiere at Cinemes Babel. The drama explores themes of female empowerment through the story of sisters Mariam and Noura, who, after their father's death, devise a plan to secure a large sum of money he left behind. Their scheme aims to outmanoeuvre their brother, who is legally entitled to half of the inheritance. Laila Abbas described the film as a narrative about the strength of womanhood and the importance of emotional and physical unity among women. 'It's a story about sisters who, having endured their own tragedies and heartbreaks, come together to become stronger,' she said. Thank You for Banking With Us! is a joint German-Palestinian production, written, directed and produced by Abbas through her Ramallah-based company Young Oak Productions. Co-produced by Hanna Atallah of Palestine Cinema Days and Roshanak Behesht Nedjad of Berlin's In Good Company Films, the film is being handled for worldwide sales and distribution by MAD World. MAD Solutions and Lagoonie Film Production, the Cairo and Riyadh-based production entity, have also teamed up to co-produce Thank You for Banking With Us! Thank You for Banking With Us! has received support thus far from the El Gouna Film Festival in 2018 through four $10,000 grants from ART, Cedars Productions, O Three Productions and Metafora respectively. Moreover, it won the In-Development Award from the CineGouna Platform and was supported by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture as well as the Doha Film Institute's 2023 edition of the Qumra Initiative. With additional funding from German film funds (Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, and the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg), and the Hubert Bals Plus Europe of International Film Festival Rotterdam, Thank You for Banking With Us! stands as a testament to the power of collective artistic vision. Notably, it was also among the winners of the Red Sea Fund's third cycle.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
There's a seriously cool film festival happening in Abu Dhabi this week
Clear your calendars and prepare to lean into the art of storytelling, because CineMAS 2025 is back and it's bringing serious indie film energy to Manarat Al Saadiyat. Running from May 26 to June 1, this weeklong festival of independent cinema isn't just about watching movies – it's about sparking conversations, honouring heritage, unpacking identities and maybe even rethinking your place in the world. Split into seven themed days, CineMAS 2025 sets the stage for daring films curated by some of the region's sharpest cinematic minds. It all kicks off with Moral Frictions on Monday – a programme shaped by Triplets on Set – which dissects institutional decay through the eyes of beleaguered educators in The Teacher's Lounge and About Dry Grasses. It's the kind of viewing that leaves your mind racing long after the credits roll. Tuesday's Hidden Truths, curated by Arab Film Studio, lifts the veil on the intimate corners of Emirati life, with a selection of shorts that tackle everything from loss to shame with a raw emotional punch. These aren't just stories – they're lived experiences turned into visual poetry. Midweek, things get environmental. Earth, Unmuted, from The Climate Tribe, serves up a climate reality check with the haunting Invisible Demons and the award-winning Honeyland, reminding us that climate collapse isn't future fiction – it's already here and it's human-made. By Thursday, it's all about roots. Ancestral Echoes brings heritage to the forefront with Rituals: Memories of a Wedding and The Way of Our Ancestors, a gentle, evocative call to remember who we are and where we came from – and maybe light a candle for what we've forgotten. Friday tightens the emotional screws with Pressure Point, curated by Like Minds. Saudi noir Mandoob sits alongside the chaotic charm of Be Kind, Rewind, creating a space where memory, labour and grief collide in unexpected ways. Saturday leans into duplicity with Double Lives, a gritty double bill tracing fractured identities and collapsing systems from Algiers to Hong Kong. Think crime, corruption and loyalties hanging by a thread. The festival closes on a high – or rather, a haunting – with Futures on Hold from NYUAD, featuring three Arab films that confront statelessness and disillusionment head-on. Mahdi Fleifel's To A Land Unknown, Laila Abbas's razor-sharp Thank You for Banking with Us and Scandar Copti's Happy Holidays are each an aching reminder of what happens when identity becomes unstable ground. Beyond the screen, CineMAS 2025 also delivers side events like DINE W/ME, Creative Circle and Like Minds Gatherings, turning Manarat Al Saadiyat into a creative ecosystem pulsing with bold ideas, new voices and much-needed dialogue. So if you're tired of sequels and superhero fatigue, CineMAS 2025 is your passport to something real – challenging, local, urgent and unforgettable. From Dhs30. Mon May 26 to Sun June 1. Manarat Al Saadiyat. More going on in Abu Dhabi UAE residents can now save big time on flights thanks to a new Skyscanner feature No complaints here You can now get a robotaxi from Zayed International Airport Trips to the airport just got an upgrade Abu Dhabi's best restaurants: Everywhere you should eat at least once Your dinner inspo is sorted 20 incredibly fun ways to explore Abu Dhabi after dark The city is at its most fascinating once the sun goes down
Broadcast Pro
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
‘Thank You For Banking With Us' wins top prize at Critics Awards
The film, directed by Laila Abbas, is an incisive portrayal of two sisters navigating the complexities of patriarchal laws and the broader political tensions of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Laila Abbas's debut feature, Thank You For Banking With Us, has taken top honours at the ninth Critics Awards for Arab Films, winning Best Film. The Palestinian production, which had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, also earned Abbas the Best Director award. Written, directed and produced by Abbas through her Ramallah-based company Young Oak Productions, the film is a joint German-Palestinian production that delves into themes of female empowerment and familial struggle. It follows the story of sisters Mariam and Noura, who, after the death of their father, hatch a plan to claim a large inheritance, determined to bypass their brother's legal claim to half of the estate. Laila Abbas describes the film as a tribute to the strength of womanhood and the power of solidarity among women. 'It's a story about sisters who, having endured their own tragedies and heartbreaks, come together to become stronger,' she said. Moroccan director Nabil Ayouch's Everybody Loves Touda also made a strong showing, taking home two awards. The film premiered in the Cannes Premiere section last year and continues to gain critical recognition across the festival circuit. Actor Adam Bessa was awarded Best Actor for his performance in Ghost Trail, a French-Tunisian film that further underscores the diversity and talent emerging from the Arab film world. The Critics Awards for Arab Films honour the most outstanding achievements in Arab cinema over the past year. Winners are chosen by a global panel of 281 film critics, reflecting a broad and international perspective on the region's cinematic output. The awards are organised by the Arab Cinema Center in partnership with MAD Solutions, the International Emerging Film Talent Association, and the NEFT Emerging Film Talent International Competition, all of which work to promote and celebrate Arab storytelling on a global stage.
Identity
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Identity
New Awards for 'Thank You for Banking With Us' at Cannes Festival
'Thank You for Banking With Us', directed by Laila Abbas, has received new awards. The film won two awards at the Critics Awards for Arab Films on the sidelines of the Cannes International Film Festival; the Best Film and the Best Director for Laila Abbas. Producers Shahinaz Al-Akkad and Hanna Atallah received the awards. The awards were granted by a jury of 281 film critics from across the world. Shahinaz Al-Akkad, who co-produced and distributed the film, expressed her gladness with the two new awards on the sidelines of Cannes Festival. Recently, the film won multiple awards from festivals across the world. It has also received acclaim since its recent screenings in numerous countries; Egypt, KSA, and the UAE, in addition to its participation in many festivals.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Thank You for Banking With Us!' Wins Best Film at Critics Awards for Arab Films
Palestinian director Laila Abbas' female empowerment drama 'Thank You for Banking With Us!' won best film and director at the 9th Critics Awards for Arab Films at an event held on the sidelines of the 78th Cannes Film Festival. 'Thank You for Banking With Us!' tackles the hot button issue of sexist Middle Eastern inheritance rules dictated by Islamic Sharia law, under which a man has a right to take double the share of a woman. More from Variety The Remake Co. Unveils 13th Adaptation of Hit Global Franchise 'Ten Days Without Mom' Judy Davis, 'Bridgerton's' Florence Hunt Star in 'Butterfly Stroke' Angelina Jolie Dazzles Cannes and Champions Global Cinema at the Chopard Gala: 'Anything to Make It More Accessible Is Necessary and Welcome' Morocco's 'Everybody Loves Touda,' written by Nabil Ayouch and Maryam Touzani, won the screenplay award, and best actress for Nisrin Erradi. Adam Bessa won best actor with French-Tunisian film 'Ghost Trail.' The awards highlight the best achievements in Arab filmmaking over the past year, with this year's winners selected by a panel of 281 film critics from around the world. The awards are organized by the Arab Cinema Center in collaboration with MAD Solutions, the International Emerging Film Talent Association, and NEFT Emerging Film Talent International Competition. This year's winners are: Best Feature Film'Thank You for Banking With Us!' Laila Abbas, Palestine Best Screenplay'Everybody Loves Touda,' Nabil Ayouch and Maryam Touzani, Morocco Best DirectorLaila Abbas, 'Thank You for Banking With Us!,' Palestinian Best ActressNisrin Erradi, 'Everybody Loves Touda,' Moroccan Best ActorAdam Bessa, 'Ghost Trail,' French Tunisian Best MusicAmin Bouhafa, 'Aïcha,' French Tunisian Best Editing'Xoftex,' Noaz Deshe and Felipe Guerrero, Romanian-Colombian Best CinematographyMostafa El Kashef, 'The Village Next to Paradise,' Egyptian Best Documentary'No Other Land,' Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Palestine Best Short Film'Upshot,' Maha Haj, Palestine Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
