The Cultural Festival

Deserts

Morocco, France, Germany, Belgium
2023
125min
Fiction

Longtime friends Mehdi and Hamid work for a debt collection agency in Casablanca. To punish them for their poor performance, their management sends them into the suffocating Moroccan Sahara to track down some bad payers. One day, in a gas station in the middle of the desert, a motorcycle parks in front of them. A threatening man is handcuffed to the luggage rack. This is the Fugitive. Their meeting marks the beginning of an unforeseen and mystical journey. World premiered at the 2023 Cannes Director’s Fortnight.

Director Faouzi Bensaïdi

After three short films that won awards in Cannes and in Venice, Faouzi Bensaïdi directed his first feature film, , in 2003, which won two awards in Un Certain Regard in Cannes. In 2006, was presented at Venice Days. In 2013, he directed , which won the CICAE award in Berlin. His latest feature film, , released in 2018, was selected at Venice Days. He is also an actor for many authors such as Jacques Audiard, Nabil Ayouch, Bertrand Bonello, André Techiné or Nadir.

Goodbye Julia

Sudan
2023
120min
Fiction

Wracked by guilt after covering up a murder, Mona a northern Sudanese retired singer in a tense marriage tries to make amends by taking in the deceased’s southern Sudanese widow, Julia, and her son, Daniel, into her home. Unable to confess her transgressions to Julia, Mona decides to leave the past behind and adjust to a new status quo, unaware that the country’s turmoil may find its way into her home and put her face to face with her sins. The first-ever Sudanese feature to screen at the Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard) and has been selected by Sudan to represent the country at the Academy Awards in the Best International Film category.

Director Mohamed Kordofani

A Sudanese filmmaker who made NYERKUK, KEJERS PRISON, and A TOUR IN LOVE REPUBLIC. NYERKUK won the Black Elephant Award for Best Sudanese Film, NAAS Award for Best Arab Film at the Carthage Film Festival, Jury Award at the Oran International Arab Film Festival, and Arnone-Belavite Pellegrini Award at the FCAAA in Milan. KEJERS PRISON was screened during the Sudanese revolution at the sit-in square in front of thousands of protesters. A TOUR IN LOVE REPUBLIC was the first pro-revolution film to be broadcasted on Sudan's national TV. His latest film THIS IS SUDAN was commissioned by Sudan’s former prime minister to promote Sudan's potential for investment.

Mohamed Kordofani is a Sudanese film director and screenwriter. His short film won numerous awards and His another short was screened during the Sudanese revolution at the sit-in square in front of thousands of protesters. He became internationally known for his first feature film in 2023. It was the first film from Sudan ever to be presented at the Cannes Film Festival. Among awards from other international festivals, won the Prix de la Liberté (Freedom Award) at the 2023 Cannes film festival. Further, it was selected by the Sudanese National Committee operating in exile to compete for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.

The Teacher

Palestine, Qatar, UK
2023
115m
Fiction

Palestinian schoolteacher Basem is deeply scarred by a tragic incident involving his son, which also led to the breakdown of his marriage. His life takes an unexpected turn as he forms a deep bond with Adam, one of his students, while also developing an unexpected connection with Lisa, a British social worker. Meanwhile, a prominent American lawyer and his wife are struggling to secure the return of their son, an Israeli soldier held captive by a Palestinian resistance group. The group's demand for a prisoner exchange escalates tensions with the authorities, intensifying the search for the soldier and plunging the neighborhood where Basem and Adam live into turmoil.

Director Farah Nabulsi

Farah Nabulsi is a Palestinian British filmmaker, born, raised and educated in the UK. She began her film career in 2016 as a writer & producer of short fiction films, exploring topics that matter to her. This includes , endorsed by renowned British Director Ken Loach, screened at the United Nations. , her directorial debut premiered at Clermont-Ferrand 2020 and won the coveted Audience Award for Best Film. It went on to win a BAFTA Award for Best British Short Film and an Academy Award Oscar Nomination for Best Live Action Short. is Farah’s directorial feature film debut.

The Last Queen

Algeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, France, Taiwan
2022
113min
Fiction

Algeria, 1516. The pirate Aruj Barbarossa frees Algiers from the tyranny of the Spanish and seizes power over the kingdom. Rumor has it he murdered the King Salim Toumi, despite their alliance. Against all odds, one woman will stand up to him: Queen Zaphira. Between history and legend, this woman’s journey tells of a struggle, of personal and political turmoil endured for the sake of Algiers. Director Adila Bendimerad co-wrote and co-directed with Ounouri and in which she also takes on the lead role as Queen Zaphira.

Director Adila Bendimerad

Adila Bendimerad is an Algerian actress, script-writer, director and producer, based in Algiers. In 2011, the actress (The repentant, The Rooftops, Normal by Merzak Allouache, Still Burning by Georges Hachem) created the company TAJ INTAJ in Algiers to promote young Algerian talent. Her production of (2013) by Karim Moussaoui received worldwide acclaim, from Locarno Festival, to her nomination for a César.

Director Damien Ounouri

Damien Ounouri is an Algerian director based in Algiers. He studied cinema theory, developing its practical application as a self-taught skill. His documentary (2012), co-produced by the Chinese director Jia Zhang-Ke, had its premiere at the Toronto TIFF and was shown in cinemas throughout France. His medium-length film (2016) had its premiere at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and was broadcast on ARTE. He also directs video-clips and commercials, teaches at cinematographic workshops, and is Associate Producer for TAJ INTAJ (Algeria). is his first full-length feature film.

Four Daughters

Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany
2023
110min
Documentary

The life of Olfa, a Tunisian woman and mother of 4 daughters, oscillates between light and shadow. One day, her two eldest daughters disappear. To fill their absence, director Kaouther Ben Hania calls upon professional actors and sets up an ex- traordinary film mechanism to unveil the story of Olfa and her daughters. An intimate journey full of hope, rebellion, vio- lence, intergenerational transmission and sister- hood, which will question the very foundation of our societies. Kaouther Ben Hania competed for the first time in the Official Selection at the 2023 Cannes with .

Director Kaouther Ben Hania

Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania studied cinema in Tunisia and then in Paris - Femis and la Sorbonne. Her previous film , premiered at Cannes Film Festival official selection "Un Certain Regard" in 2017, won the Best Sound Creation Award. Challat of Tunis, her second documentary, opened the ACID section at Cannes Film Festival 2014 and was widely distributed. Her third documentary Zaineb Hates the Snow premiered at Locarno Film Festival 2016 and won several awards. Imams Go to School, her first documentary premiered at IDFA 2010. Her last film , starring Monica Bellucci, was officially selected to premiere at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated at the 2021 Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category.

Inshallah a Boy

Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France
2023
113’
Fiction

After the sudden death of her husband, Nawal is struggling to cope with the upheaval in her life. However, her pain is soon compounded by the possibility of losing her home to her brother-in-law. Desperate to keep her home and provide a stable life for her daughter, Nawal resorts to deception by faking a pregnancy. But as time passes, the lie becomes harder to sustain and Nawal faces a difficult choice. With only three weeks to find a solution, Nawal embarks on a journey that challenges her fears, beliefs, and morality, as she fights to secure her rightful inheritance and protect her daughter’s future.

Director Amjad Al Rasheed

Amjad Al Rasheed, a Jordanian director and writer born in 1985, has an MFA in Cinematic Arts with a concentration on Directing and Editing. In 2016 he was selected by «Screen International» as one of five «Arab Stars of Tomorrow» highlighting the up-and-coming young talents of the region. He attended the Talent Campus during the 57th Berlinale, after which he directed short films that garnered nominations and won prizes at various Arab and international film festivals.

Hajjan

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan
2023
126min
Fiction

In the highly competitive world of desert camel racing, where Bedouin family legacies are forged, young Ghanim dreams of seizing victory in the annual Great Safwa Race in honor to his legendary grandfather, known only as Hajjan – “The Jockey”. But tragedy strikes when he is thrown from his mount by a mysterious rider in a golden headscarf, resulting in his tragic death. Witnessing his older brother's suspicious demise, orphaned Mattar vows to restore his family honor, embarking on a mission to become a Hajjan himself.

Director Abu Bakr Shawky

Director Abu Bakr Shawky is an Egyptian-Austrian writer and director. His short documentary has been awarded at festivals around the world. It was followed by his debut feature , which premiered in the Main Competition of the Cannes Film Festival, won the Francois Chalais Award, and was nominated for the Palme d'Or. is his second feature film.

Ramad

Oman
2023
21min
Fiction

A story inspired by a true incident about a family living in a mountain village, where a medical examination reveals that their unmarried teenage daughter is pregnant, and then the family decides to kill and bury her to erase the shame, along with the doctor's attempt to save the situation by correcting the fault.

Director Suleiman Al-Khalili

Suleiman Al-Khalili is a director and writer of short narrative and documentary films, articles in the field of cinema, and short stories. From 2017 to 2019, he was a chairman of Oman Film Society. In 2020, he won the Third prize for Best Screenplay with at the 10th Muscat International Film Festival. He wrote and directed another short film (2012). His latest short film is an award winner for Best Short Film Script in 2022.

Water Religion

Oman
2023
29min
Fiction

is a short narrative film tells the story of Issa, a blind teenager who has a dream to sail the sea looking after his lost father fisherman against all odds. Meanwhile, Issa feels sad about his best friend and only childhood friend Zahra, a disabled girl who is suffering death due to an unknown illness. In the middle of the film, Issa meets Sabeet, a strange old man who hides a deadly secret. The film ends with an open ending with a main question, Does Issa success to sail and find his father?

Director Haitham Sulaiman

Haitham Suleiman is a screenwriter and director, born in the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate of the Sultanate of Oman. He holds a BA in English from Sultan Qaboos University and the University of Queensland, Australia. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of Oman Film Society (2017-2021). Haitham began his film career in as a screenwriter for feature films, winning the Best Feature Film Screenplay Award for three consecutive years in Oman. He then wrote and directed 4 short films which screened and awarded at various local and international festivals in Oman, Iraq, Algeria, Bulgaria, and Sweden. He also wrote scripts for television series, both for traditional TV channels and online platforms.

Birds Paradise

Oman
2023
14min
Documentary

The film tells the story of why the region of Bur Alhikman is important for the migration birds. Within the film, both local people and environmental specialists will give the answers within shared conversations.

Director Abdullah Al-Raisi

Abdallah Al-Raisi is a director, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, and a member of the Board of Directors of Oman Film Society. He has served on judging committees and worked as an assistant director on several documentary projects that have won both local and international awards. He is a graduate of the Broadcasting and Television Media Department and has participated in several training programs in filmmaking both within and outside the Sultanate.

The 13th ARAB Film Festival

Opening Film