Between Heaven and Earth and Give Up the Ghost Participates in Reel Palestine in UAE

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Screening at Cinema Akil

Between Heaven and Earth and Give Up the Ghost Participates in Reel Palestine in UAE


Feature film Between Heaven and Earth by Director Najwa Najjar will open the 7 th Reel Palestine Film Festival (January 22-30) in the UAE, while short film Give Up the Ghost by director Zain Duraie takes part in the same edition this year. The two films are distributed by MAD Solutions and slated to screen at Cinema Akil.

Reel Palestine is an annual film festival showing a selection of alternative Palestinian films in the UAE at Warehouse 421 in Abu Dhabi and Cinema Akil. The independent cinema platform brings quality films from across the world to audiences in the UAE.

About Between Heaven and Earth:

A thirty-something couple, Salma and Tamer, have been married for the past five years and living in the Palestinian Territory. The first time Tamer is ever given a three-day permit to cross the Israeli checkpoint, is to file for divorce in the courts in Nazareth. At the courthouse, they are confronted with a staggering discovery about the past of Tamer’s father; a secret which sends Salma and Tamer spinning on an emotional road trip exploring the loss and betrayal of the past, and of themselves.

Written and directed by Palestinian filmmaker Najwa Najjar, Between Heaven and Earth is currently at Zawya Cinema for the fifth week in a row. The film has previously won Naguib Mahfouz Award for Best Screenplay, where it landed its world premiere and screened in the Official Competition. It has also been screened as part of the European Film Market (EFM) that is held within the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). MAD Solutions handles the film’s distribution in the Arab world.

Screening Times:

Friday, January 22 at 7:00 pm (Festival Opener)
Sunday, January 24 at 9:30pm
Thursday, January 28 at 7:00 pm
Friday, January 29 at 9:30 pm
Saturday, January 30 at 9:30 pm

About Give Up the Ghost:

Give up the Ghost tells the story of Salam whose dreams of becoming a mother shatters when she finds out that she is unable to have children with her husband.

The film has previously won the Vimeo Staff Pick Award at Palm Springs International ShortFest, El Gouna Star for the Best Arab Short Film and the Jury Award at the Indian World Film Festival. Written and directed by Zain Duraie and produced by Tabi360 (Alaa Alasad), the

film brings together Maria Zurek and Zaid Bakri in the leading roles and is shot by DOP Benoit Chamaillard. MAD Solutions handles the film's distribution in the Arab world.

Screening Times:

Monday, January 25 at 7:00 pm
Wednesday, January 27 at 9:30 pm