The festival screens films made by women or centering women, and tackles issues that particularly affect women, including gender equality, sexual identity and domestic violence.
MAD Solutions has sent three films from its distribution slated to compete at the seventh edition of the Beirut International Women Film Festival, slated to run from April 14 to 19, 2024. The lineup from MAD Solutions comprises three films, each poised to captivate audiences with their narratives and craftsmanship.
The lineup of MAD films includes the Sudanese film Goodbye Julia by Mohamed Kordofani, Yellow Bus directed by Wendy Bednarz, and the Jordanian film Inshallah a Boy by Amjad Al-Rasheed.
Goodbye Julia follows the story of Mona — a northern Sudanese retired singer in a tense marriage — who is wracked by guilt after covering up a murder. In an attempt to make amends, she takes 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 film is a co-production involving Sudanese, Swedish, German, Saudi, French, and Egyptian collaborators.
Set against the backdrop of the Arabian Gulf’s scorching desert, Yellow Bus intricately 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?
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.
Inshallah a Boy narrates the story of Nawal, a recently widowed woman navigating societal challenges to save her daughter and home after her husband’s death in a society where having a son holds significant weight.
Directed by Amjad Al-Rasheed and co-written alongside Delphine Agut and Rula Nasser, the film boasts a stellar cast including Mouna Hawa, Haitham Omari, Salwa Nakkara, Yumna Marwan, Mohammad Al-Jizawi, Islam Al-Awadi, and Celina Rabab’a.
