Amjad Al Rasheed's debut feature made history as the country's first-ever film selected for Cannes.
Jordanian film Inshallah a Boy, a feature film directed by Amjad Al Rasheed, won the Gan Foundation Award and Rail d’Or Award during Cannes’ Critics Week, which ran alongside the Cannes Film Festival.
Inshallah a Boy was the only Arab film competing in the 62nd edition of the parallel section, which showcased 11 features — seven in competition and four as special screenings.
Overseen by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics, the section focuses on first and second features as well as shorts by emerging talents.
Public dignitaries, A-list celebrities, critics, and media figures from foreign media outlets attended the screening of Jordan’s first Cannes selection.
The film garnered widespread acclaim, receiving a standing ovation before a post-premiere Q&A with the crew.
Inshallah a Boy, a co-production between Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is overseen by Jordan-based producer Rula Nasser for The Imaginarium Films.
The film tackles the problematic issue of women and inheritance in Jordan, an issue which is prevalent throughout the Arab world, where, due to antiquated laws, men inherit twice as much as women.
It was also awarded by El Gouna Film Festival and Festival International de Films de Fribourg, as well as supported by Oticons, which will allow it to collaborate with the composers represented by the company.
It also received production and post-production support from Jordan’s Royal Film Commission in two cycles, a monetary prize from the Arab Radio and Television Network at the fifth Cairo Film Connection, and production support from the Doha Film Institute.
Inshallah a Boy won financial support from El Gouna Film Festival worth $5000.
Directed by Amjad Al-Rasheed and co-written alongside Delphine Augte and Rula Nasser, Inshallah a Boy stars Muna Hawa, Haitham Omari, Salwa Nakkara, Yumna Marwan, Mohammad Al-Jizawi, Eslam Al-Awadi, and Cilina Rababa.
Meanwhile, MAD Solutions and Lagoonie Film Production are in charge of distributing it all over the Arab world and Pyramide International is handling international sales and distribution in France.
