With a diverse lineup spanning intimate stories and political narratives, MAD Solutions continues to champion Arab cinema on the international stage.
MAD Solutions is set to present eight standout titles from its diverse distribution slate at the 15th Malmö Arab Film Festival, running from April 29 to May 1. The selection includes five short films and three features, all competing in the festival’s official competition, with their directors expected to attend.
Leading the feature film lineup is Diaries from Lebanon by Myriam El Hajj, a personal and political reflection chronicling four tumultuous years in Lebanon. Premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, the film is both a national memoir and a meditation on resilience amid chaos.
Also featured is the dark comedy Thank You for Banking with Us, by Palestinian filmmaker Laila Abbas. The film centres on two estranged sisters attempting a heist to secure their inheritance in the wake of their father’s death. Starring Clara Khoury and Yassmine El Massry, the film had its world premiere at BFI London and its MENA premiere at El Gouna Film Festival.
Hind Meddeb’s Sudan Remember Us rounds out the feature selection with a poignant documentary on youth resistance in Khartoum. From moments of joy to exile and repression, the film—acclaimed after its Venice premiere—captures a defining chapter in Sudanese history.
The short film offerings begin with Upshot by Maha Haj, a Palestinian drama that unfolds on a remote farm where a couple’s fragile relationship is shaken by a stranger’s arrival. The film was awarded the Pardino d’Oro at Locarno Film Festival.
Nya by Imene Ayadi, set during Algeria’s 1994 civil war, follows a young girl’s innocent wish for her father’s return amidst escalating violence. The film has travelled extensively on the festival circuit, including stops in Algeria, the Netherlands, South Africa, and France.
Yasir Faiz’s Bougainvillea portrays the resilience of six women imprisoned during Sudan’s 2018 revolution, while Abu Judy by Adel Ahmed Yehia, an Egyptian short, tells the emotional story of a father-daughter bond tested by sudden adversity. Premiering at the Cairo International Film Festival, it explores the complexities of childhood and familial love.
The final entry, Loss by Rami Kassis, is a harrowing account of migrants travelling through the desert, based on true events. The film premiered at Tunisia’s Carthage Film Festival.
