The success of these films at the Tripoli Film Festival further cements MAD Solutions’ reputation for promoting socially resonant films across the Arab world.
Three films from MAD Solutions’ lineup took home three awards at the recently concluded Tripoli Film Festival, held in Lebanon from September 19 to 25. The festival, which celebrated cinema from across the region, honoured the diverse achievements of these outstanding films.
Karim Bensalah’s Six Feet Over was awarded Best Feature, Mohamed Kordofani’s Goodbye Julia received the Special Jury Prize, and Hend Bakr’s Tedious Tour of M earned a Special Mention for Best Documentary.
Six Feet Over follows the journey of Sofiane, a young Algerian student whose visa has been revoked, leaving him on the brink of expulsion. To avoid deportation, he begins working at a Muslim funeral home while navigating his own path to self-discovery and adulthood.
The Algerian-French drama, starring Hamza Meziani and Kader Affak, had its Arab world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival, where it also won the Best Screenplay Award. The film has since collected multiple accolades, including honours at the Angers European First Film Festival and the Toronto Arab Film Festival.
Goodbye Julia, by Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani, is a feature that made history as the first Sudanese film to screen at the Cannes Film Festival. The film follows Mona, a retired northern Sudanese singer grappling with guilt over her involvement in a murder, and her complex relationship with the victim’s widow, Julia.
The film has garnered widespread acclaim, winning the Freedom Prize at Cannes and being Sudan’s official submission for the Academy Awards. Goodbye Julia has screened at over 100 international festivals and won more than 31 awards globally.
Hend Bakr’s documentary Tedious Tour of M shines a light on Mohamed Hafez Ragab, a reclusive Egyptian literary figure who withdrew from public life for nearly three decades. The film, which has captivated audiences for its in-depth portrayal of Ragab’s self-imposed isolation, received a Special Mention for its portrayal of humanity and continuity. Since its premiere, it has screened at several international festivals, including the Aswan International Women’s Film Festival and Visions du Réel.
