Latest news with #MADSolutions
Broadcast Pro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Four MAD films to compete at Durban International Film Festival
Together, these four films underscore the diversity and strength of contemporary Arab and African cinema, bringing socially resonant stories to a global audience. 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.
Broadcast Pro
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
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.
Broadcast Pro
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Palestinian documentary ‘LYD' to screen in Cyprus and Greece
The documentary follows the rise and fall of Lyd, a 5,000-year-old metropolis that was once a bustling Palestinian town until it was conquered by the State of Israel, which was established in 1948. The Palestinian documentary LYD, directed by Rami Younis, a Palestinian filmmaker, writer and journalist, and Sarah Ema Friedland, a New York-based documentary filmmaker, will be showcased across three cities during the Palestinian Independent Film Festival (PIFF), taking place from June 13 to 15. Audiences in Limassol, Cyprus, as well as Chania and Agios Nikolaos in Crete, Greece, will have the opportunity to experience this film. LYD presents a sci-fi documentary narrative, tracing the trajectory of Lyd, a 5,000-year-old metropolis that transformed from a vibrant Palestinian town to a conquered entity following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Through an array of characters, the film weaves a tapestry of the Palestinian experience in this city, highlighting the enduring impact of the massacre and expulsion. MAD Solutions is the worldwide distributor and sales agent for the film. The film recently received the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Houston Palestine Film Festival and the Audience Choice Award for Feature Films at the San Diego Arab Film Festival. LYD also received the Best Asian Feature Award at the Pramana Asian Film Festival, earned two mentions at the Sguardi Altrove International Women's Film Festival, and won both a Jury Award for Best Documentary and the inaugural FIPRESCI Award at the fourth edition of the Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film. The film has garnered attention at festivals, including Pune, Middle East Now, Al Ard, Reel Palestine, Palestinian, and Melbourne Science Fiction. Moreover, it has had multiple screenings worldwide, including extensive showings across the US, Jordan, Italy and Australia. Roger Waters, the movie's executive producer, is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and composer known for co-founding the rock band Pink Floyd in 1965, where he served as its bassist.
Broadcast Pro
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Sydney Film Festival adds MAD titles to 2025 line-up
These two additions will spotlight deeply human narratives from the Arab world and its diasporas The Sydney Film Festival, set to run from June 4 to 15, has announced the addition of two titles from MAD Solutions to its 2025 programme: Yunan and Têtes brûlées, both of which bring emotionally resonant storytelling to the international stage. Yunan, the latest work from Syrian filmmaker Ameer Fakher Eldin, is the second installment in his HOME trilogy, which delves into the emotional landscape of estrangement and exile. The film follows an Arab writer who, burdened by disillusionment, leaves his life in Hamburg and retreats to a secluded island on the North Sea, intending to end his life. His unexpected encounter with an elderly woman and her quiet acts of compassion slowly reignite his will to live. Directed, written and edited by Ameer Fakher Eldin, the film is a Canadian-German-Italian co-production, with contributions from Palestine, Qatar, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The cast includes Lebanese actor and filmmaker George Khabbaz, German actress Hanna Schygulla, Palestinian actor Ali Suleiman and Game of Thrones stars Sibel Kekilli and Thomas Wlaschiha, alongside Lebanese theatre veteran Nidal El Ashkar. Ameer Fakher Eldin, a Syrian filmmaker based in Hamburg, was born in Kyiv in 1991 to Syrian parents from the occupied Golan Heights. Joining Yunan in the festival's program is Têtes brûlées, a poignant coming-of-age story from Belgian-Tunisian-Danish director Maja Ajmia Zellama. The film centers on 12-year-old Eya as she grapples with the sudden death of her older brother Younès. Through a heartfelt exploration of grief, Eya finds solace in her imagination, her brother's close-knit circle of friends, and her own inner strength, as she begins to navigate a world without him. Produced by Komoko, with co-productions by Quetzalcoatl and 1080 Films, Têtes brûlées is a Belgian film enriched by Tunisian cultural influences. The cast features Safa Gharbaoui, Mehdi Bouziane, Mounir Amamra—known for his role in DIVINES—along with Adnane El Haruati, Saber Tabi, Nicolas Makola, Mehdi Zellama and Monia Taieb.
Broadcast Pro
30-05-2025
- 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.
