The film was developed in December 2021 as a part of a trilogy of Ameer Fakher Eldin's first 2021 film, 'The Stranger' with working title as 'Nothing of Nothing Remains'.
Ameer Fakher Eldin’s film Yunan has been awarded this year’s Arab Critics’ Award for European Films, now in its seventh edition, presented by European Film Promotion in collaboration with the Arab Cinema Centre.
The announcement was made during the award ceremony at the El Gouna Film Festival. Fakher Eldin, unable to attend in person, shared a video message thanking the jury, ACC, and EFP for the “beautiful recognition.” He said receiving the award from Arab critics was particularly meaningful, describing it as a sign that Yunan had “finally found its way home.”
The filmmaker also expressed appreciation for his producer and longtime collaborator, Dorothe Beinemeier of Red Balloon Film, who accepted the award on his behalf. Beinemeier praised Fakher Eldin’s work, describing Yunan as a slow, silent and deeply poetic film, echoing the subtle storytelling of his first feature, The Stranger. She noted that Fakher Eldin’s films invite reflection and offer new insights with each viewing, calling him “a brilliant observer and storyteller, a very old and wise soul in a young man’s body.”
Beinemeier added that she eagerly anticipates producing the third installment of their planned trilogy.
Yunan is the second film in Fakher Eldin’s trilogy, HOME, which explores themes of estrangement. The film follows a disillusioned Arab writer who leaves his exiled life in Hamburg and travels to a remote North Sea island with thoughts of ending his life. There, he encounters an elderly woman whose quiet kindness rekindles his desire 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.
The film features a score by MAD Crew composer Suad Bushnaq, cinematography by Ronald Plante, production design by Marie-Luise Balzer and sound design by Kuen-Il Song. It is produced by Dorothe Beinemeier, Catherine Chagnon, Marco Valerio Fusco and Micaela Fusco, with additional collaboration from Alaa Alasad and Hind Anabtawi. Executive producers include Paola Corvino and MAD Solutions’ Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab.
Backed by Red Balloon Film, Microclimat Films, Intramovies, Metafora Production, Tabi360 and Fresco Films, Yunan is distributed in the Arab world by MAD Distribution. The film received support from the Red Sea Fund, the Red Sea Souk, the Jordanian Royal Film Commission, MOIN Film Fund, Eurimages, Telefilm Canada and SODEC.
