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MAD Solutions sweeps awards at Casablanca Arab Film Festival
Together, these wins mark a significant moment for MAD Solutions, celebrating a diverse range of Arab voices and cinematic styles that continue to resonate with international audiences and juries alike.
MAD Solutions emerged as the dominant force at the closing ceremony of the sixth Casablanca Arab Film Festival, collecting multiple top honours for three of its acclaimed films. The Arab film distribution powerhouse claimed the festival's Grand Prize, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and a Special Jury Mention.
The Grand Prize went to Thank You for Banking with Us!, which also earned the Best Actress Award for Clara Khoury. Directed and written by Laila Abbas, the Palestinian-German co-production had its Moroccan premiere at the festival. The film, a sharp social satire wrapped in a sister-heist comedy, stars Yasmine Al-Masri, Clara Khoury, Kamil Al-Basha and Ashraf Barhoum. It tells the story of two sisters who, after their father's death, attempt to secretly claim his inheritance before their brother discovers it. The film had already garnered recognition internationally, including Best Fiction Feature at the Beirut International Women Film Festival and Best Screenplay at Sweden's Malmö Arab Film Festival.
Also featured was This Is My Night, which took home the Best Screenplay Award for writer Kifah Zainie. Directed and produced by Jafra Younes—who also stars in the film—the Syrian-Emirati co-production made its Arab world premiere in Casablanca. The intimate drama follows Ruba, a struggling artist battling deep depression, as she shares her suicidal thoughts with her retired military father. The film had previously debuted at Spain's International Human Rights Festival and features performances by Younes and Hassan Alsaleh, with cinematography by Abdulelah Alawamleh and music by Babel.
Rounding out MAD Solutions' achievements was Sudan, Remember Us, which received a Special Mention from the jury. Directed by Hind Meddeb, the French-Tunisian documentary offers a moving look into the lives of five Sudanese political activists who use poetry and protest to challenge their country's oppressive military regime. The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and later screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Since then, it has been featured in more than 20 global festivals, including those in Ajyal, Marrakech, Berlin, Malmö, and Aswan.
