'Ghost Trail' and 'Samia' are being sold by French arthouse production and distribution giant mk2 Films.
MAD Solutions, the film distribution agent in the MENA region, has inked a significant deal with its longstanding French partner mk2 Films for the Arab World sales rights of two titles set to make their world premieres soon: one at the Cannes Film Festival and the other at Tribeca.
Continuing its commitment to showcasing the untold narratives of a region often misrepresented and oversimplified, MAD’s latest endeavour focuses on Jonathan Millet’s French-Syrian thriller Ghost Trail and Yasemin Şamdereli’s Somali biopic Samia.
Ghost Trail, slated to open the Cannes Film Festival, delves into themes of justice and redemption as it follows Hamid, a Syrian embroiled in a pursuit of the regime’s fugitive leaders. Directed by Jonathan Millet and featuring French-Tunisian star Adam Bessa and Palestinian actor Tawfeek Barhom, the film explores the complexities of morality and vengeance.
Meanwhile, Samia, directed by Yasemin Şamdereli and based on the true story of Somali athlete Samia Yusuf Omar, chronicles her journey to become an Olympic runner amidst adversity. The film promises to be a poignant portrayal of resilience and the pursuit of freedom.
The screenplay is co-written by Nesrin Şamderel and Giuseppe Catozzella, with a production team led by Simone Catania, Dietmar Güntsche, Anja Karina Richter, Francesca Portalupi, Michele Fornasero, Martin Rohé, Joseph Rouschop, David Herdies, Riccardo Russo, and Christoph Fisser. The film features performances by Ilham Mohamed Osman, Fathia Mohamed Absie, Fatah Ghedi, Elmi Rashid Elmi, Waris Dirie, Riyan Roble, and Zakaria Mohamed.
Commenting on their latest acquisition, Co-Founders of MAD Solutions Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab said: “It’s always a joy working with a company like mk2 Films that values both authenticity and good cinema. It’s so easy in this industry to buckle under the weight of what sells and what the public wants to see that it has become increasingly rare to find a partner that values what we do: A certain universality to the stories we tell.”
The partnership between MAD Solutions and mk2 Films has yielded successful collaborations in the past, including hits like Our Ties and Nezouh. With this latest agreement, both entities aim to continue their tradition of bringing compelling stories to audiences worldwide, bridging cultural divides and fostering appreciation for diverse narratives.
