For the third consecutive year, Cinemed and AFLAMUNA announce the selection of ten films participating in the “AFLAMUNA x Cinemed encounters” 2024, a joint initiative to support independent cinema and foster connections between Arab filmmakers, producers, and international industry professionals, with the support of the CNC – Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée.
Ten feature fiction and documentary projects in development from Arab countries have been selected.
The directors and producers will participate in the Cinemed Meetings to present their projects, receive guidance from an expert, and meet potential partners.
The encounters will be held in Montpellier, France, on 21, 22, and 23, October 2024.
Water Night is the story of a Palestinian family, my family, living in a small countryside town called Talluza and their daily and never-ending struggle with the water supply in the shadow of both occupation and climate change.
Young director Zidan investigates the 1980s murder of Egyptian director Niazi Mustafa for a documentary. His search leads him to Italy, where he meets Bruno, the son of Imam, a suspect. Zidan uncovers Imam’s ties to Italian cinema and a group of Egyptian directors. The investigation reveals Imam’s involvement in Kamal Selim’s murder and theft of a screenplay, unveiling deep connections between cinema, society, and history.
Oshik, a young man from Sudan’s Beja tribe, is bullied and forced into a stereotypical role, while Daoud, an aging Nuba wrestler, is deeply rooted in his culture but grieving the loss of his son. Their lives change when Oshik decides to learn wrestling, leading to an extraordinary friendship and self-discovery.
Rock, Paper, Sea is a coming-of-age story set in the Mediterranean in the summer of 2001. It follows 11-year-old Maha, who learns her father won’t return from Kuwait for the holidays. Believing he’s planning a surprise, she searches for clues, befriending a boy her age. Through her unconventional storytelling and artistic pursuits, Maha navigates girlhood, discovering the complexities of friendship, love, and heartbreak as she approaches adolescence.
On the night of Saddam Hussein’s execution in 2006, Muthanna, a 28-year-old bus driver, had only five hours to navigate through Baghdad with his father to rescue his kidnapped brothers. Their mission requires them to recover two bodies from a dangerous district. Along the way, they face snipers and hostile fighters. In the end, Muthanna is forced to make a heartbreaking choice: save his father or brothers. Will he make the ultimate sacrifice?
Souleymane, a Guinean migrant, tries to cross the Mediterranean in search of wealth. After facing hardships and losing his brother, he discovers permaculture through Leila and the Darna Association in Tangier. Inspired, he aims to establish an educational farm in Guinea, providing young people with opportunities for a brighter future.
The film follows 14-year-old Mansour, a frail boy with dreams of flying, as he hones his talent from lifting small bikes to motorcycles. Inspired by the young men in his Cairo neighborhood, including 23-year-old Osama, Mansour’s coming-of-age journey showcases his determination to escape a harsh life. He faces obstacles like age, physical limitations, and family responsibilities, viewing this skill not just as a hobby, but as a way of life.
My people and I lived together in the city center, yet we were completely detached as if we resided in a distant, isolated village.
In Beirut, a man leaves his car in front of a hospital and receives a parking ticket. He tries to pay it but discovers there’s no way to do so.
As a construction worker grapples with debt and homelessness, he navigates a labyrinth of hope and despair against the backdrop of a crumbling town. Al-Madeeneh 2008 is a portrait of a place and the lives of its cynical and superstitious people.