Front Row is planning to release 'The Teacher' in the MENA region in Q1 2024.
Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired the MENA distribution rights for the Palestinian drama film, The Teacher. The movie recently had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. This acquisition marks the company’s second collaboration with the British-Palestinian director, Farah Nabulsi.
Front Row Filmed Entertainment had previously distributed Nabulsi’s Oscar-nominated and Bafta-winning short film, The Present, which gained widespread attention and acclaim prior to its run during the 2021 awards season. The film was eventually picked up by the streaming giant Netflix.
The Teacher is a produced by Sawsan Asfari, Osama Bawardi, and Farah Nabulsi. The film is set and shot in the West Bank city of Nablus and features a cast including Saleh Bakri and Imogen Poots. The film follows the story of a Palestinian school teacher as he struggles to reconcile his life-threatening commitment to political resistance with his emotional support for one of his students and the chance of a new romantic relationship with a British volunteer worker.
Front Row Filmed Entertainment has a strong commitment to promoting Palestinian cinema, having previously distributed another TIFF selection titled A Gaza Weekend and curating the ‘Made in Palestine’ collection for Netflix in 2021.
Front Row CEO Gianluca Chakra said: “We’re delighted to be working once again with Farah, Osama and Sawsan. The audience reaction to the screening was a triumph, led by a terrific performance by Saleh Bakri, who now cements himself as one of the best contemporary Arab actors.
“Exploring and embracing Palestinian cinema offers us all a unique opportunity to foster authenticity, access and understanding. Through the lens of films such as this one, we can gain valuable insights into the experiences, struggles, and aspirations of the Palestinian people, ultimately promoting representation, dialogue and a more inclusive world.”
Producer Asfari said of the new collaboration: “Front Row share our vision of bringing to life and making accessible to the wider audience the voices of those not heard, and the stories of those not seen.”
Front Row is planning to release The Teacher in the MENA region in Q1 2024. International sales for the film are being handled by Vincent Maraval’s Goodfellas, while CAA Media Finance is responsible for US sales.
