Director Mohamed Ben Attia will introduce both screenings and will be available for post-screening Q&A sessions, joined by producer Dora Bouchoucha and actors Majd Mastoura and Samer Bicharat.
Tunisian filmmaker Mohamed Ben Attia’s feature film, Behind the Mountains, is set for its Arab World premiere at the ongoing third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, running from November 30 to December 9.
The film will be showcased twice during the festival, both screenings held at the Red Sea Mall. The first screening is scheduled for Friday, December 1, at 10:10 pm at Vox Cinema IMAX 7, followed by a second screening on Saturday, December 2, at 3:55 pm at Vox Cinema 2. Director Ben Attia will provide an introduction at both screenings and will remain present for post-screening Q&A sessions alongside producer Dora Bouchoucha and actors Majd Mastoura and Samer Bicharat.
Previously, Behind the Mountains enjoyed full-house screenings and positive reception throughout the Venice Film Festival, with David Katz of Cineruopa calling it the “most unconventional, and arguably the most rewarding” of Ben Attia’s filmography so far.
The film follows the story of Rafik and his son, where Rafik’s singular plan is to take his son on a journey to showcase his remarkable ability to fly. Despite facing scepticism from his wife and resistance from in-laws, Rafik disrupts his son’s school routine and whisks him away. During their escape, they encounter a shepherd and find refuge in a country house, where events take an unexpected turn.
Written and directed by Mohamed Ben Attia, the filmmaker previously earned the Best First Feature Award at the Berlin International Film Festival for his work on Hedi. The cast includes Samer Bisharat, Walid Bouchhioua, Salma Zeghidi and Helmi Dridi.
Lensed by Frédéric Noirhomme, Behind the Mountains is edited by Lenka Fillnerova and co-produced by Dora Bouchoucha and Lina Chaabane (Nomadis Images); Jean Pierre, Luc Dardenne, and Delphine Tomson (Les Film Du Fleuve); Nadim Cheikhrouha (Tanit Films); and Giovanni Robbiano and Lorenzo Rappetti (010films).
Behind the Mountains has received support from the Red Sea Fund, winning both production and post-production rounds in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Furthermore, Mohamed Ben Attia is also a Red Sea Lodge instructor.
The film is distributed worldwide by Luxbox, while MAD Solutions handles Arab world sales.
