The film is a joint production between Palestine, Italy and France.
The 77th Locarno International Film Festival has selected Upshot, a Palestinian short film exploring themes of human loss and resilience. Competing in the Pardi di Domani – Corti d’Autore Competition, the Swiss festival will run from August 7 to 17.
Written and directed by Palestinian filmmaker Maha Haj, Upshot follows her successful feature film Mediterranean Fever, which won the Best Screenplay Prize in the Un Certain Regard sidebar of the Cannes Film Festival in 2022.
Set against the enduring strife of Gaza, Upshot is a gripping drama featuring Mohammed Bakri, Areen Omari and Amer Hlehel. It tells the story of Suleiman and Lubna, a couple seeking solace on an isolated farm as they cope with profound loss. Through storytelling, they create a parallel reality free from their pain. However, when a journalist intrudes, the fragile illusion they’ve built begins to unravel.
The film is a joint production between Palestine, Italy and France, produced by Ramallah-based August Films with Hanna Atallah and Ronza Kamel. They are also co-producing Thank You For Banking With US, which is in post-production. Both films will be distributed worldwide by MAD World and in Arabic-speaking territories by MAD Distribution.
Speaking about the film, Maha Haj said: “Upshot is both a lamentation and a testament to the indomitable power of the human spirit. In a world defined by suffering, Suleiman and Lubna’s journey is a poignant reminder of the boundless resilience of the human imagination. With a narrative set in the future, this film confronts the stark reality of a nation scarred by decades of conflict. There are no easy answers, no political solutions to assuage the anguish of parents who have lost everything. And so, it unfolds in a realm unbound by time or place — a poignant reflection of the irreparable loss that defies earthly confines.”
Maha Haj, with a background in English and Arabic literature, made her feature film debut in 2015 with Personal Affairs, which was selected for Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2016.
