Latest news with #MADWorld
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
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Moroccan film ‘Aicha' to world premiere at Krakow Film Festival
The film is distributed across Arab-speaking territories by MAD Distribution. Aicha, a short film by Moroccan filmmaker Sanaa El Alaoui, is set to have its world premiere in the Short Film Competition at the Krakow Film Festival, one of Europe's longest-running celebrations of cinematic art. Now in its 65th edition, the festival, which has been held annually since 1961, will run this year from May 25 to June 1. The film tells the story of a once emotionally distant mother who joins a mystical ceremony in an effort to confront her grief and reconnect with the memory of her 17-year-old daughter, whose life was cut short by tragedy. The narrative explores themes of loss, healing, and transformation through a surreal and spiritual lens. Speaking on her featurette, Alaoui stated: 'Watching AICHA breaks the illusion of time's linearity, allowing you to see life and death unfold simultaneously', further adding that, 'Trauma shatters our perception of time and space; it reshapes our identities. It offers us either the chance to let go or to be reborn, and that is the journey of the daughter and her mother.' The cast features Hind Dafer, Manal Bennani, Mohamed Amine Kihal, Sanaa El Alaoui, Kenza Fridou, Soumia Belkaria and Mustapha Rachdi. El Alaoui wrote and directed the film, which was produced by Piotr Kaczorowski. The film's cinematography is by Oskar Jan Król, editing by Michał Buczek, and animation by Tomek Popakul and Kasumi Ozeki. Aicha is distributed across Arabic-speaking regions by MAD Distribution, with international sales managed by MAD World. El Alaoui, known for her thoughtful storytelling and visual sensibility, holds degrees from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest—where her thesis on the long take in cinema received the Best Thesis of the Year Award—and the University of Oxford, where she focused her research on the evolution of Moroccan cinema from its colonial roots to the modern era.
Broadcast Pro
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Malmö Arab Film Festival to screen documentary ‘Diaries From Lebanon'
The docudrama, set in Lebanon, is a joint production between Lebanon, France, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Myriam El Hajj's Lebanese feature-length documentary Diaries From Lebanon is set to be screened at the Malmö Arab Film Festival (MAFF) on May 2. El-Hajj's documentary delves into the lives of Georges, Joumana and Perla Joe, each representing a different generation with unique perspectives on reshaping Lebanon. However, as the country grapples with disruptions and personal quests unfold, they are confronted with the question — can our dreams survive in a world in turmoil? Diaries From Lebanon (in Arabic Mitl 'Osas el Hob, or Like Love Stories) is a joint production between Lebanon, France, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The film was written, directed, and co-filmed by Myriam El Hajj, with contributions from Jihad Saadé and Mohamed Siam. It was produced by Georges Schoucair of Abbout Productions (Lebanon) and Laurent Ruszniewski of GoGoGo Films (France). Anita Perez and Stéphanie Sicard handled the editing. MAD World, a subsidiary of MAD Solutions, is responsible for the film's global sales. The documentary features author and activist Joumana Haddad, Lebanese war veteran Georges Moufarej, and artist and activist Perla Joe Maalouli. Diaries From Lebanon received support from various organisations, including the Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée (CNC), the Fonds Image de la Francophonie, Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, International Media Support (IMS), Visions Sud Est with the support of the SDC, and the Lebanese Film Fund-an Initiative of the Fondation Liban Cinema. Additionally, the film received funding from the Doha Film Institute, the Red Sea Fund and the Atlas Workshops of the Marrakech International Film Festival, and won the Mactari Mixing Auditorium Award and Titra Films Award at the Final Cut in Venice Workshop.
Broadcast Pro
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Sabrine Khoury's ‘The Miracle of Life' to premiere at Beirut Int'l Women Film
A joint production between Palestine and the Netherlands, the film is written, directed and edited by Sabrine Khoury. Sabrine Khoury's short experimental documentary The Miracle of Life is set to make its world premiere at the eighth Beirut International Women Film Festival, competing in the Short Experimental category from April 27 to May 3. This marks the film's debut on the international festival circuit. The film intimately chronicles the emotional and physical experiences of a Palestinian woman living in the Netherlands as she prepares for motherhood. Through personal reflections, the protagonist navigates anxiety, bodily transformation and a profound identity crisis, all while pushing back against societal expectations of pregnancy and motherhood. Set during the Gaza War, the woman's internal turmoil is deepened by the external conflict, giving voice to a multi-layered narrative of personal and political significance. Khoury, who both wrote and directed the film, revealed that her own pregnancy in September 2023 inspired the work. 'It was a planned pregnancy, and I was happy and excited about this new journey; however, that joy was overshadowed by pain and questions,' she shared. 'This film is born from these intense and conflicting emotions. It seeks to explore the complex realities of pregnancy and motherhood against the backdrop of the war in Gaza while questioning the legitimacy of my own feelings. I truly hope to honour the resilience and strength of women navigating these profound experiences.' A joint Palestinian-Dutch production, The Miracle of Life was produced by Nawl Productions and features cinematography by Rashed Rashed, music by Maen El Ghoul, and sound design by Sami Merib. Khoury also served as editor. MAD World is handling worldwide sales, while MAD Distribution oversees its release in the Arab region. Born in Canada, Khoury later returned to her hometown of Nazareth, Palestine, and currently resides in the Netherlands, where she continues her work as a filmmaker and producer.
Broadcast Pro
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
‘Têtes brûlées' continues festival run after Berlinale debut
MAD World oversees the film's international sales, while MAD Distribution manages its distribution across the MENA region. Following its world premiere at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, where it earned two Special Mentions in the Generation 14plus section, Têtes brûlées is set to continue its festival circuit with upcoming screenings at the D'A Barcelona Film Festival. The film's director, Maja Ajmia Zellama, will participate in Q&A sessions after the screenings on March 28 at 5:15 PM and March 29 at 7:35 PM at Aribau 4, offering audiences deeper insight into her creative process and storytelling approach. A Belgian production infused with Tunisian influences, Têtes brûlées is a coming-of-age drama centred on 12-year-old Eya, who struggles to cope with the sudden loss of her older brother Younès. Bound by an unbreakable connection, Eya finds herself navigating a structured and emotional grieving process, leaning on her creativity, resilience, and Younès' close friends to make sense of her loss and move forward. At Berlinale, the film was recognised with two Special Mentions—one from the official Generation 14plus jury and another from the Independent Jury of the AG Kino – Gilde – Cinema Vision 14plus. These accolades further solidified its status as one of the festival's standout films. The Generation 14plus jury praised Têtes brûlées as 'a remarkable debut that provides a rare glimpse into a world of solidarity and love through the eyes of a young girl. With visually fresh imagery and heartfelt storytelling, it captures the complexity of grief and its transformative power. A bold yet delicate film, it highlights the strength found in unity during difficult times.' The film has also garnered critical acclaim, with Aurore Engelen of Cineuropa describing it as 'a film of few words but many gestures—hands reaching out, arms embracing and consoling.' She commended Zellama's sensitive direction, noting her ability to 'capture both the strength and fragility of these moments.' Written and directed by Belgian-Tunisian-Danish filmmaker Maja Ajmia Zellama, Têtes brûlées is produced by Komoko, with co-productions by Quetzalcoatl and 1080 Films. Zellama, a graduate of the LUCA School of Arts, is also the co-founder and president of ASBL Bledarte, a Brussels-based organisation dedicated to empowering immigrant youth through art and culture. The film's production team includes producers Marc Goyens and Nabil Ben Yadir, cinematographer Grimm Vandekerckhove, editor Dieter Diependaele, production designer Eve Martin, casting director Marie McCourt, and sound designer David Vranken. Têtes brûlées is represented for international sales by MAD World, while MAD Distribution is overseeing its release across the MENA region. The film features Safa Gharbaoui, Mehdi Bouziane, Mounir Amamra (DIVINES), Adnane El Haruati, Saber Tabi, Nicolas Makola, Mehdi Zellama and Monia Taieb.
