All three films are represented by MAD World for international sales and by MAD Distribution for regional release.
Middle East Now Festival Shines Spotlight onThe Middle East Now Festival returns to Florence this October, spotlighting three MAD films that delve into deeply personal and political narratives from the Middle East and its diaspora. Featuring 50 Meters, Têtes Brûlées and My Father and Qaddafi, the festival continues its mission to celebrate bold, thought-provoking cinema that examines identity, family, loss and resilience through diverse regional perspectives.
Organised by the Florence-based non-profit association Map of Creation, Middle East Now has become a vital cultural platform dedicated to fostering dialogue and understanding through contemporary cinema, art and culture. The festival seeks to illuminate the social, political, and cultural realities of the Middle East while encouraging cross-cultural exchange and empathy.
The 2025 edition opens on Wednesday, October 8, with the Italian premiere of Têtes Brûlées by Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama at Cinema La Compagnia. Set in Brussels, the film follows twelve-year-old Eya, whose close bond with her brother Younès anchors her joyful life within a Tunisian-Muslim family. When tragedy strikes with Younès’ sudden death, Eya’s world unravels, and she turns to creativity and community as sources of healing. A tender coming-of-age story, Têtes Brûlées captures the strength and spirit of a multicultural generation rarely depicted in European cinema.
On Saturday, October 11, filmmaker Jihan K presents her emotionally charged documentary My Father and Qaddafi at the same venue. The film retraces the life of her father, Mansur Rashid Kikhia — Libya’s former Foreign Minister and human rights advocate who broke from Muammar Gaddafi’s regime to lead a peaceful opposition movement. His mysterious disappearance in Cairo in 1993 becomes the starting point for Jihan’s exploration of memory, political exile, and personal identity. Combining archival footage, interviews, and introspection, the documentary transforms into a moving reflection on grief, legacy, and reconciliation. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the director, offering audiences an intimate glimpse into her creative and emotional process.
The festival concludes on Sunday, October 12, with the Italian premiere of 50 Meters by Egyptian filmmaker Yomna Khattab, also at Cinema La Compagnia. Set around a Cairo swimming pool frequented by an elderly men’s aquagym group, the documentary unfolds as a tender dialogue between the filmmaker and her father. Once distant and reserved, he becomes the subject of Khattab’s exploration of family, vulnerability, and connection. Through staged scenes and candid exchanges, 50 Meters becomes a poetic reflection on the unspoken emotions that define familial bonds. Winner of the NEXT:WAVE Award at CPH:DOX, the film has already earned international praise for its originality and emotional resonance. Khattab will also join audiences for a post-screening discussion.
