Latest news with #MADSolutions
Broadcast Pro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
MAD Solutions brings six short films to Rotterdam Arab Film Festival
Each of these six films is represented internationally by MAD World, with MAD Distribution handling sales across the Arab World. MAD Solutions is showcasing a lineup of six short films at this year's Rotterdam Arab Film Festival, which runs through June 1. The selected works—Last Nights of Summer, Love Bites, Madonna, Upshot, Nya and Born a Celebrity—hail from across the Arab region and delve into themes of family, identity, freedom and memory. Opening the slate is Last Nights of Summer, a story following three cousins—Farah, Rana and Leila—who reunite at their childhood home in Jordan two years after their grandfather's death. Written and directed by Yasser, the film examines the subtle transformations in relationships over time and distance. It stars Tara Emad, who also serves as executive producer, alongside Shahd El Shater and Farah Aboughattas, with cinematography by Mohamed Ashraf Koushi and music by Donia Wael. Following is Love Bites, a tense family drama centered on two brothers who struggle to agree on how to prepare their deceased sister's body after discovering unexpected marks that could spark scandal among waiting mourners. The cast includes Sedky Sakhr, Mahmoud Zain, Sohila Alanwar, Nadia Hassan, Mahmoud Yehia, Sara Alaaeldin and Rowan Alaa Eldin. The film features cinematography by Moamen Alameldin and editing by Mohamed Mamdouh. In Madonna, the action shifts to a monastery in Egypt, where the theft of an archaeological artifact puts the abbots under pressure. Tensions rise between Father Maurice and Francis, and suspicion falls on Suad, the chef, who is struggling to secure surgery for her daughter. A dramatic turn shifts the stakes entirely. Directed by John Fareed Zaki and co-written with Abanoub Nabil, the film stars Karim Kassem, Abd El-Aziz Makhyoun and George Sassine, with visuals by cinematographer Filopater Morad and editing by Sara Abdullah. The psychological drama Upshot unfolds on a secluded farm in Gaza, where Suleiman and Lubna have isolated themselves in the aftermath of personal tragedy. Their fragile peace is disrupted by the arrival of a stranger, triggering a descent into unresolved grief and memory. Directed by Maha Haj, the film is a co-production between Palestine, Italy and France, and features performances by Mohammed Bakri, Areen Omari and Amer Hlehel. Offering a child's-eye view of conflict, Nya tells the story of seven-year-old Anya, living in a 1994 Algerian suburb. As civil unrest creeps closer, her carefree world begins to fray. Directed by Imene Ayadi, the film features a standout performance by Melissa Benyahia and captures the quiet erosion of childhood innocence against a backdrop of war. Closing the selection is Born a Celebrity, a thoughtful character study of Kamel, a 25-year-old Palestinian man overwhelmed by the attention of his tightly-knit community. As he seeks space to define his own identity, his quiet rebellion becomes a moving meditation on freedom and social pressure. The film is written, directed, edited and co-produced by Luay Awwad with Nour Abukamal, and stars Munther Bannourah and Khaled Masso. All six films are represented internationally by MAD World, with MAD Distribution handling Arab world sales.
Broadcast Pro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Algerian film ‘Algiers' set to screen in Abu Dhabi
MAD Solutions handles the film's distribution in the Arab world, while The Party Film Sales handles worldwide distribution. Algerian writer, director, and musician Chakib Taleb-Bendiab's feature-length directorial debut, Algiers, is set to screen at Manarat Al Saadiyat Art Gallery, Abu Dhabi, on May 31. Algiers is an investigative thriller addressing the serious issue of child kidnapping in Algeria, a country still recovering from its civil war. The film follows the story of a kidnapped little girl, sparking a wave of tension and suspicion throughout the city. Central to the narrative are Dounia, a skilled psychiatrist, and Sami, a committed police inspector, who together navigate the haunting shadows of Algeria's past to unravel the mystery. Written and directed by Bendiab, the film features a stellar cast including Meriem Medjkane, Nabil Asli, Chahrazad Kracheni, Hichem Mesbah, Slimane Benouari and Ali Namous. Algiers is produced by Khaled Chikhi and Yasmine Dhoukar, with executive production by Canadian filmmaker Patricia Chica. The cinematography is by Ikbal Arafat, who won the Best Cinematography Award in 2018 at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival for Black Spirit. The film is edited by Bendiab and Fouad Benhammou and is distributed internationally by MAD World and in Arabic-speaking territories by MAD Distribution.
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.
Egypt Today
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
ACC Reveals Nominees for 9th Critics Awards for Arab Films to be held at 78th Cannes Film Festival
The Critics Awards. Continuing its tradition of celebrating excellence in Arab cinema, the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) has announced the nominees for the ninth edition of its annual Critics Awards for Arab Films. Leading the pack with five nominations each this year are four films: THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US; EVERYBODY LOVES TOUDA; GHOST TRAIL and SEEKING HAVEN FOR MR. RAMBO. Following close behind them, with four nominations, is: AÏCHA. Several other films also had multiple nominations including: THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE; TO A LAND UNKNOWN; VOY! VOY! VOY! and NORAH. This year's winners will be revealed during a ceremony held on May 17th as part of the Cannes Film Festival. The event is organized in collaboration with MAD Solutions and the International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA), and attendance is by invitation only. The Critics Awards for Arab Films have become a prestigious and anticipated highlight of the festival calendar. The 2025 edition marks another milestone in the award's legacy, with a record-breaking 281 jury members from 75 countries voting on the standout Arab films of the past year. Nominees were selected from films that premiered outside the Arab world in the 2024 calendar year. This year's nominations span across a range of categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Music, showcasing the depth and diversity of the storytelling craft and from across the Arab region. Here's the final list of nominees: Best Feature Film ● THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US! | Laila Abbas | Palestine ● EVERYBODY LOVES TOUDA | Nabil Ayouch | Morocco ● SEEKING HAVEN FOR MR. RAMBO | Khaled Mansour | Egypt ● AÏCHA | Mehdi Barsaoui | Tunisia ● GHOST TRAIL | Jonathan Millet | France Best Director ● Laila Abbas | THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US! ● Nabil Ayouch | EVERYBODY LOVES TOUDA ● Khaled Mansour | SEEKING HAVEN FOR MR. RAMBO ● Jonathan Millet | GHOST TRAIL ● Mahdi Fleifel | TO A LAND UNKNOWN Best Screenplay ● Laila Abbas | THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US! ● Nabil Ayouch & Maryam Touzani | EVERYBODY LOVES TOUDA ● Mehdi Barsaoui | AÏCHA ● Jonathan Millet & Florence Rochat | GHOST TRAIL ● Mo Harawe | THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE Best Actor ● Essam Omar | SEEKING HAVEN FOR MR. RAMBO ● Adam Bessa | GHOST TRAIL ● Yagoub Alfarhan | NORAH ● Muhammad Farrag | VOY! VOY! VOY! ● Majd Mastoura | AGORA Best Actress ● Yasmine Al Massri | THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US! ● Nisrin Erradi | EVERYBODY LOVES TOUDA ● Hala Rajab | GHOST TRAIL ● Diamand Abou Abboud | ARZÉ ● Rakeen Saad | SEEKING HAVEN FOR MR. RAMBO Best Cinematography ● Antoine Héberlé | AÏCHA ● Mostafa El Kashef | THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE ● Thodoros Mihopoulos | TO A LAND UNKNOWN ● Jonathan Sela | THE STRANGERS' CASE ● Wojciech Staron | RED PATH Best Editing ● Heba Othman | THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US! ● Yasser Azmy | SEEKING HAVEN FOR MR. RAMBO ● Joana Scrinzi | THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE ● Ahmed Hafez | VOY! VOY! VOY! ● Noaz Deshe & Felipe Guerrero | XOFTEX Best Music ● Kristian Eidnes Andersen & Flemming Nordkrog | EVERYBODY LOVES TOUDA ● Amin Bouhafa | AÏCHA ● Omar Fadel | NORAH ● Florencia Di Concilio | THE VANISHING ● Rodrigo D'Erasmo | SAMIA Best Documentary ● NO OTHER LAND ● DIARIES FROM LEBANON ● A FIDAH FILM ● SUDAN, REMEMBER US ● FROM GROUND ZERO Best Short Film ● AFTER THE SUN ● UPSHOT ● MANGO ● SHADOWS ● A SHORT FILM ABOUT KIDS
See - Sada Elbalad
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Youssef Omar to Star in Hong Kong Action Thriller "Shashou"
Yara Sameh Rising Egyptian actor Youssef Omar has recently joined the cast of UK-Chinese action thriller "Shashou". Cairo-based MAD Solutions will release across Arabic-speaking territories. 'It's an Arab spin on the packaging strategy that Hollywood has long deployed,' said MAD Solutions co-founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab. 'We remain adamant that Arab creative talents should enjoy the same standing in the global entertainment market as their peers from other regions.' "Shashou" marks a first international role for Omar, who was seen most recently at home in the high-profile Ramadan series A Woman's Youth (Shabab Emraa), co-starring opposite Egyptian actress Ghada Abdel Razek. The movie is produced by Hong Kong's Phoenix Waters Productions together with London-based Berkeley Media Group and Ostara Pictures, with SC Films International handling worldwide sales. In addition to MAD Solutions coming on board as the film's MENA distributor, South Korea's Studio Target is joining forces as the Korean distributor. "Shashou" is set in the shady world of ex-special forces, where outcasts Kelly Frost, Rachel Chan, and Inferno unite to stop a billionaire's plot to destabilize Hong Kong. Amid secrets and shifting alliances, trust is their only hope, as the mysterious 'Shashou' watches from the shadows. The movie is being produced and directed by Bizhan Tong, a UK producer, screenwriter, and film director who is the founder and CEO of Phoenix Waters Productions, a company dedicated to creating high-concept productions with global appeal. Charlie Wong (Warriors of Future), Michael Chuah (Firefly), Yu-Fai Suen (The Eye), and Raimund Berens (Siege On Liperti Street) are also producing. Omar first gained widespread recognition with his breakthrough role in the 2018 drama "Rahim", followed by his role in the popular show "Women's Maadi House" (Sittat Bayt Al Maadi), about three women from the same household dealing with their husbands' infidelities. His big screen credits include "The Children Of Karim's Ladies" (Awlad Hareem Kareem), "Underdogs" (El Hareefa) and "Meen Yasadaq". Tong said he had cast Omar for Shashou on the basis of his on-screen presence, describing it as 'intense, layered, and magnetic'. 'I'm genuinely excited to direct him in Shashou, where his character plays a vital role in the story's emotional core. This film brings together talent from across continents to honor the legacy of Hong Kong action cinema while reimagining it for a global audience. I'm grateful to Mad Solutions for supporting ambitious, cross-cultural projects like those from Phoenix Waters — stories that bridge East and West and speak to audiences around the world,' he said. Omar said of the upcoming opportunity: 'I am humbled by everyone's confidence in me on my first international outing. It's every actor's dream to step out of their local industry, and what better way to do it than in a project like Shashou under a world-class director like Bizhan Tong. I simply can't wait to get started.' read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Arts & Culture Arwa Gouda Gets Married (Photos)
