The film received post-production funding from the Cairo Film Connection and the Doha Film Fund.
Iraqi filmmaker Koutaiba Al-Janabi’s thriller, The Woodman, has secured a screening slot at the Aube Film Festival 2023, which will take place from August 31 to September 08, 2023, across Basel-Stadt, Basel-Land, and Schaffhausen, Switzerland. The film’s writer and director Al-Janabi will also attend the screening.
Previously, the film was screened at several international festivals, including the Arabisches Film Festival in Berlin, the International Filmmaker Festival of New York, and Seville Independent Film Festival, where it received the Bronze Award in the Narrative Films Category. In the Arab world, it was screened at the Abdul-Hameed Shoman Foundation in Jordan.
The film project also received the Jury Prize at Cairo Film Connection (CFC) and was funded by the Doha Film Institute.
The plot — which is more of a fantasy — revolves around a human-sized wooden doll that is forced to flee its homeland. Along its journey, it crosses paths with several characters to reveal a true picture from the hearts and minds of all those compelled to flee their homelands.
Written, directed, produced, and shot by Koutaiba Al-Janabi, The Woodman stars Hanna Heffner and Mihaly Palko. Hugh Williams edited the film, Rana Eid managed the sound, and Nadim Mishlawi composed the music. Meanwhile, MAD Solutions is managing the film’s distribution in the Arab world.
Hailing from Baghdad, Al-Janabi’s artistic journey took him to Budapest, Hungary, where he honed his craft in photography and cinematography. His repertoire includes roles as a producer and director for a range of television projects. He further demonstrated his scholarly pursuits by crafting a PhD thesis that delves into the aesthetics of Arabic cinema.
