These six films highlight MAD Solutions' commitment to showcasing diverse stories from the Arab world at the film festival.
MAD Solutions will feature six films from its distribution slate at the upcoming Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film, scheduled from July 3 to July 11.
The MAD lineup includes Amjad Al-Rasheed’s Inshallah a Boy, Mohamed Ben Attia’s Behind the Mountains, and Amr Gamal’s The Burdened, all competing in the festival’s Arab Competition. Additionally, Faouzi Bensaïdi’s Deserts, Karim Bensalah’s Six Feet Over, and Marya Zarif and André Kadi’s Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo will be featured in the festival’s Rendez-Vous Franco Arabe.
Leading the lineup is Amjad Al-Rasheed’s Inshallah a Boy. The film follows the recently widowed Nawal, who must save her daughter and home following her husband’s death in a society where having a son is a game changer. Directed by Al-Rasheed and co-written with Delphine Agut and Rula Nasser, Inshallah a Boy is Jordan’s official submission for Best Foreign Film at the 96th Academy Awards and stars Mouna Hawa, Haitham Omari, and Salwa Nakkara.
Next is Mohamed Ben Attia’s Behind the Mountains, which tells the story of Rafeek, who, after spending four years in jail, takes his only son behind the mountains to show him an incredible find.
Amr Gamal’s The Burdened is based on a true story set in Aden, Yemen. The film follows Ahmed, Isra’a, and their three children as they navigate life after losing their jobs due to an economic crisis. When the couple discovers they are expecting a fourth child, they face the challenge of seeking an abortion in a conservative community, forcing the family to make tough decisions to survive.
Faouzi Bensaidi’s Deserts follows associates Mehdi and Hamid, who work for a collection agency in Casablanca and travel to remote Moroccan villages to collect debts from overextended individuals.
Karim Bensalah’s Six Feet Over centres on Sofiane, the son of a former Algerian embassy clerk, who is now a student in Lyon facing the threat of expulsion due to visa issues. He takes a job at a Muslim funeral home, embarking on a journey of self-discovery, identity shaping, and transition to adulthood.
Lastly, Marya Zarif and André Kadi’s Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo follows Mica, a child from a shantytown who becomes a handyman at a Casablanca tennis club. Under the wing of ex-tennis champion Sophia, he seeks to change his destiny.