The festival will open with 'Daughters of Abdulrahman' by Zaid Abu Hamdan on April 20.
MAD Solutions has sent six films from its distribution slate to compete at the Arabisk Film Festival in Norway, which will be running from April 20 to 23.
The lineup includes four feature films — Zaid Abu Hamdan’s Daughters of Abdulrahman, Erige Sehiri’s Under the Fig Trees, Firas Khoury’s Alam, and Leyla Bouzid’s A Tale of Love and Desire — and the documentaries From Meir to Meir by Maggie Morgan and Gaza Surf Club by Philip Gnadt and Mickey Yamine.
Daughters of Abdulrahman will be the festival’s opening film, screening twice at Cinemateket, USF Verftet — once on Thursday, April 20 at 6 pm and the other on Friday, April 21 at 7 pm.
The film follows the story of Zainab, who wakes up to a shocking discovery that could defame her in the neighbourhood. She quickly calls for her sister Amaal’s aid. However, fiery Amaal has her own problems with their other sister Samah – who is too busy to be there – while Khitam, the fourth sister, is busy with her own goals in life.
Next up is Under the Fig Trees, which was Tunisia’s official submission at the 2023 Oscars for Best International Feature Film. The film will be screened on Friday, April 21 at 8:30 pm at BFK: Tivolisalen, Det Akademiske Kvarter.
Taking place over the course of a day, Under the Fig Tress presents an intergenerational dialogue between a group of teens and older folk as they work the summer harvest, catch feelings, attempt to understand each other, and navigate the complicated terrain of building deeper ties.
Alam will be screened on Sunday, April 23 at 7 pm at the Cinemateket, USF Verftet.
The film follows the story of Tamer, a Palestinian teen who lives the life of a typical high school student. When Tamer meets the beautiful Maysaa’ one day, he agrees to join her in a mysterious and life-changing operation dubbed ‘ALAM.’
A Tale of Love and Desire World premiered at the Cannes Film Festival’s International Critics’ Week and screened at over 20 film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival, and Red Sea International Film Festival.
The film will be screened twice at Cinemateket, USF Verftet on Saturday, April 22 at 7 pm and on Sunday, April 23 at 5 pm.
The film follows Ahmed, a French teenager of Algerian origin who meets Farah — a young Tunisian girl — and falls head over heels in love with her. While discovering a collection of sensual and erotic Arab literature, Ahmed tries to resist his desire for Farah.
MAD Solutions’ penultimate entry in the Arabisk Film Festival is From Meir to Meir, which won the NUT Award for Best Egyptian Film Supporting Women’s Work at the fifth Aswan International Women’s Film Festival, as well as the Jury Award for Best Documentary Film Over 15 Minutes at The National Egyptian Film Festival.
The film will be screened twice on Friday, April 21 at noon at BFK: Tivolisalen, Det Akademiske Kvarter, and once more at the same time on Saturday, April 22 at Cinemateket, USF Verftet.
Set in Upper Egypt in the village of Meir, Egyptian filmmaker Morgan interviews various villagers over the course of twelve years. During these interviews, she discovers the world’s beauty and complexities, which her grandmother is entirely fascinated by.
Gaza Surf Club will be screened on Friday, April 21 at 4 pm at BFK: Tivolisalen, Det Akademiske Kvarter.
Trapped in “the world’s largest open-air prison” and ruled by war, a new generation is drawn to the beaches. Sick of occupation and political gridlock, they find their freedom in the waves of the Mediterranean. They are the surfers of Gaza.
