The OSN Original is a fictionalised story of a six-year-old South Asian schoolgirl who falls asleep on a school bus and ultimately dies from heat exhaustion.
OSN‘s first original feature, Yellow Bus directed by Wendy Bednarz, is set to hit Vox Cinemas across Saudi Arabia and the UAE starting May 16.
Penned and directed by Wendy Bednarz in her feature debut, Yellow Bus boasts Jordanian producer Nadia Eliewat as a key collaborator.
Written and directed by American filmmaker Wendy Bednarz, Yellow Bus stars Kinda Alloush alongside Bollywood sensation Tannishtha Chatterjee, Amit Sial, and Aarushi Laud, discovered by director Wendy Bednarz in Dubai, portraying the pivotal role of the child.
A collaborative effort between the US, India, Jordan, and the UAE, Yellow Bus is produced by Jordanian producer and Screen Project founder Nadia Eliewat in partnership with Guneet Monga, founder of Sikhya Entertainment.
During the film’s premiere in Toronto, Bednarz shared insights with Variety magazine, revealing her inspiration to amplify the voices of marginalised individuals grappling with unconscious bias in Middle Eastern society. She said: “It’s a dance here to tell these stories truthfully, to give voice to these stories, even invisible people, I was challenged on that.”
Set against the backdrop of the Arabian Gulf’s scorching desert, Yellow Bus weaves a tale around a mother’s anguish over the loss of her child and her relentless pursuit for closure. Exploring themes of alienation and connection, the film mirrors the experiences of individuals navigating a multicultural environment.
The narrative unfolds when the daughter of an Indian family is tragically left behind on a school bus, leading to her untimely demise. As each family member grapples with the aftermath, the grieving mother embarks on a quest for truth and accountability, refusing to rest until justice is served. Will her relentless determination bring solace amid tragedy?
MAD Solutions handles the film’s international sales rights and theatrical distribution across the Arab world, while the cinematography is crafted by French Tunisian cinematographer Sofian El-Fani, renowned for his international accolades.
