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2019

Fatwa

 

Synopsis
In 2013, Brahim Nadhour, a Tunisian who lived in France since his divorce has to return to Tunisia to bury his son who died in a motorcycle accident. He then discovers that his young son Marwan had been part of a radical Islamist group. Brahim decides to conduct his investigation to identify the people who indoctrinated his son. As the events unfold, his investigation leads him to doubt the circumstances surrounding his son’s death.

Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud

Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud is a Tunisian director who obtained his BA in Journalism, Art History, and Film Directing from the Free University of Brussels, where he currently teaches screenwriting. His directorial career began with the feature film CROSSINGS (1982) followed by CHICHKHAN FILM (1991) and QAWAYEL AL RUMAN (1999). In 2001, his film THE THOUSAND AND ONE VOICES was screened at the Venice International Film Festival.

Bomb, a Love Story [Bomb, Yek Asheghaneh]

 

Synopsis 
It's 1988 and, at the height of the Iran-Iraq War, Tehran is bombed relentlessly. The days that pass are full of foreboding, and yet, love, affection, hope and life itself manage to sweep away the fear of death from those surrounded by it. Love may often be difficult to comprehend, but death is a horrible certitude. BOMB, A LOVE STORY shows how, even when faced with the darkness of death, love and hope will find a way.

Payman Maadi

Payman Maadi is a prominent actor born to Iranian parents in New York in 1970. When he was six, his family moved back to Iran. His acting roles include Steven Zaillian’s HBO series THE NIGHT OF, and films such as CAMP X-RAY, LAST KNIGHTS, and 13 HOURS: The SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI. He was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlinale for Asghar Farhadi’s compelling drama, A SEPARATION (2011) which itself won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film.

Cold November

 

Synopsis
Fadil, an archivist, finds himself in a difficult situation: he has to choose between two options - being aware that both of them are wrong. As a consequence of his decision, Fadil involuntarily and unwillingly has to “swallow” the shame and endure the pressure coming from all sides.

Ismet Sijarina

Ismet Sijarina is a film director and scriptwriter living in Kosovo. He has directed a number of short films and his documentary film, BEYOND THE RAINBOW, has been greatly accepted worldwide.

Meryem Ben M'Barek

Meryem Benm’Barek (1984, Rabat) studied Arabic Language and Civilisations at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations in Paris before entering the directing department at INSAS in Brussels in 2010. There, she directed five short films, notably NOR (2013) and JENNAH (2014), which was selected for numerous international film festivals and was considered for the Academy Award submission in 2015. Meryem also creates sound design art and has had exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The Giraffe

 

Synopsis
Through the streets of the city that are void of all but its ghosts, Ahmed is lost and depleted of faith. Tonight, he must save a girl he does not know by getting her enough money to afford an abortion. Ahmed is swallowed into the madness of the city as he embarks on a surreal journey where he finds himself involved with an eccentric group of young people, led by an enigmatic young woman who is trying to uncover the mystery behind the Giraffe hidden at the zoo.

Ahmed Magdy

Ahmed Magdy (born in 1986 in Cairo) is a filmmaker, actor, and yoga instructor. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at Ain Shams University, then joined the Al-Tamy Theater Troupe as assistant director and actor. RIVERBED (2007) was his debut short documentary film, after which he directed ZIZO (2007), the internationally-acclaimed CREAM CAKE (2008) and TO THE SEA, which screened at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival where he later served as a jury member. His debut feature film, NO ONE THERE, received the Sanad and AFAC grants.