Thank You for Banking with Us – Directed by Laila Abbas
A social drama that explores family dynamics and inheritance laws in a patriarchal Middle Eastern context. The film tells the story of Mariam and Noura, two sisters who face their father’s death. He leaves behind a large sum of money in a bank. According to the law, their brother is entitled to a double share of the inheritance because of his male status. The two sisters, who have strained relationships, decide to unite and try to recover the money before their brother finds out about their father's death. The film addresses themes such as the injustice of patriarchal laws and female solidarity, mixing dark humor and social critique. Shot in Palestine, it is an international co-production involving entities such as August Film and Chezville, with support from the Doha Film Institute and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC). It was developed and awarded in festivals like the El Gouna Film Festival, where it won awards for its promising screenplay, which recalls 'Inshallah a Boy' by Amjad Al-Rasheed.
To a Land Unknown – Directed by Mahdi Fleifel
A captivating drama that follows the story of two Palestinian cousins, Chatila and Reda, stuck in Athens after fleeing a camp in Lebanon. The film explores their struggle to survive on the margins of Greek society, desperately trying to reach Germany. Their goal is to raise enough money to buy fake passports, but the situation worsens when Reda loses their savings due to his drug addiction. Facing this loss, Chatila hatches a risky plan: they pretend to be smugglers and take hostages to try to escape their desperate environment. This film, influenced by New York cinema, particularly 'Midnight Cowboy', combines a thriller style with a realistic approach to the living conditions of migrants.
The cinematography by Thodoris Mihopoulos and the music by Nadah El Shazly contribute to the film's dark and urgent atmosphere. To a Land Unknown was presented at the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes 2024.
Who Do I Belong To – Directed by Meryam Joobeur
Aïcha and her husband, Brahim, have lived through years of uncertainty after their two eldest sons, Mehdi and Amine, left home to join an armed group in Syria. When Mehdi returns alone, he claims that his brother was killed, and the presence of Reem, his silent wife, fills the family with growing tension. As Aïcha tries to reintegrate her son and protect this mysterious new wife, unexplained disappearances of men from the village begin to stir unrest. Aïcha’s prophetic visions gradually reveal dark truths about Mehdi’s past and Reem’s identity.
This feature film, following her Oscar-nominated short 'Brotherhood', stands out for its blend of social realism and poetic symbolism. Joobeur uses dreamlike images and immersive photography to explore family fractures caused by radicalism while emphasizing the feminine perspective. The film was presented in competition at the Berlinale 2024 and won several awards, including Best Director at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
'Who Do I Belong To' is an international co-production involving companies from France, Canada, and Tunisia, with support from funds in various countries, including Norway and Qatar. The film explores universal themes of belonging, loyalty, and identity quest in a Tunisian context anchored in contemporary realities.
Ghost Trail – Directed by Jonathan Millet
The film is a dramatic thriller that follows Hamid, a former literature professor from Aleppo. Exiled in Europe after fleeing the Syrian war, Hamid joins an underground group that hunts down former officials of the Syrian regime. Played by Adam Bessa, Hamid is haunted by his past, particularly by a torturer he decides to pursue to France, hoping to confront him. The film is inspired by real events, offering an intense immersion into the journey of Syrian refugees seeking justice and truth. Ghost Trail premiered at the Critics' Week at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, where it was praised for combining the codes of espionage films with a psychological confrontation. Critics particularly appreciated Adam Bessa's performance, who portrays a man determined to face his past while exploring the complexities of revenge and trauma. The actor notably won the Best Performance award at the Cannes Film Festival 2022 in the Un Certain Regard section for his role in Harka by Lotfy Nathan.