MAD Solutions will send six films on its distribution list to the 17th Zurich Film Festival (September 23rd – October 3rd), to participate in the festival’s New World View: Tunisia section, where each film is set to have three screenings. The Tunisian films are: Streams, by Mehdi Hmili, Tlamess by Ala Eddine Slim, A Tale Of Love And Desire by Laila Bouzaid, Railway Men by Erige Sehiri, Hedi by Mohamed Ben Attia, and Noor by Rim Nakhli.

The Zurich Film Festival provides a platform for the most promising filmmakers from around the globe. It aims to promote exchange between emerging directors, successful film workers, the film industry and the general public. Every autumn, the ZFF presents the year’s greatest discoveries and most anticipated films.

About Streams:
Amel works in a factory in Tunis. She lives with her alcoholic husband Tahar, a former local football player, and their only son Moumen, a talented teenage football goalkeeper. The mother meets Imed, who claims to help Moumen with his career. But the wealthy businessman takes advantage of the situation and abuses her. The police catch them. Amel is imprisoned and accused of adultery and prostitution. Moumen finds himself destroyed by the scandal. Furthermore, he falls into the abyss of the Tunisian nightlife. After her release, Amel searches for Moumen on the slums and violent streets of Tunis. In this long quest for missing son, Amel has to face the fallen Tunisian society.

Written and directed by Mehdi Hmili, Streams stars Afef Ben Mahmoud, Iheb Bouyahia, Zaza, Sarah Hannachi and Slim Baccar and features music composed by Amine Bouhafa. The film is a joint production between Yol Film House (Tunisia), Tarantula (Luxembourg), MPM Film (France), Clandestino Production (Tunisia) and in association with Allam Film (USA). MAD Solutions is in charge of the film’s distribution across the Arab world.

About Tlamess:
Tlamess revolves around S, a young soldier in the Tunisian desert. When his mother dies, he gets a week’s leave and goes back home. However, he never returns to the barracks and becomes the target of a manhunt through the backstreets of his working-class neighborhood, before vanishing into the mountains. Several years later, F, a young woman married to a rich businessman finds out that she’s pregnant. One morning, she leaves her luxurious villa and disappears into the forest.

Written, edited and directed by Ala Eddine Slim, Tlamess stars Souhir Ben Amara, Abdullah Miniawy and Khaled Ben Aissa. The crew also includes Sound Engineer Moncef Taleb and DOP Amine Messadi. It is a Tunisian/French production through Exit Productions and Still Moving, with support from the Franco-Tunisian Fund, the Tunisian Ministry of Culture Fund, as well as the Aide aux Cinémas du Monde; a fund managed by the Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée in France, and the World Cinema Fund Europe. MAD Solutions is in charge of the film's distribution in the Arab world.

About A Tale Of Love And Desire:
Ahmed, French teenager of Algerian origin, meets Farah, a young Tunisian girl, and falls head over heels in love with her. While discovering a collection of sensual and erotic Arab literature, Ahmed tries to resist his desire towards Farah.
Written and directed by Laila Bouzaid, the film stars Zbeida Belhajamor and Sami Outalbali. MAD Solutions handles the film’s distribution in the Arab World.

About Railway Men:
Railway Men is a road movie that draws a portrait of Tunisian railway men and women. Driving the old locomotive, the protagonists of the Railway Men defend their own choices despite the risks. By denouncing incompetence and corruption, this film celebrates dignity, hope and resilience.

Directed and written by Erige Sehiri, Railway Men features Afef Abdelli, Ahmed Mourad, Issameddine Fitati, and Khaled Gharbi. The film is produced by Nomadis Images and Les Films de Zayna, in coproduction with Akka Films and Al Jazeera Documentary. Railway Men is distributed in the Arab world by MAD Solutions. The film received grants from the Arab Fund for Art and Culture (AFAC), Fonds Francophone de Production Audiovisuelle du Sud, and the Doha Film Institute.

About Hedi:
The film follows Hedi a young man who doesn't expect much from the future. While his mother tries to decide his life for him, making arrangements to marry him off to Khadija, Hedi meets Rym only two days before his wedding. Captivated by Rym's free-spirit, Hedi finds himself obsessed with his new-born passion and suddenly discovers that his world goes above and beyond conventions. The film stars Majd Mastoura, Rym Ben Messaoud, and Sabah Bouzouita.

Hedi is written and directed by Mohamed Ben Attia, and co-produced by Dora Bouchoucha, Nadim Cheikhrouha, along with Belgian producers and directors, the brothers Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne (Two Days, One Night), while the distribution of the film is handled by MAD Solutions.

About Noor:
Noor and Adam set off in search for their father, whom they have not seen for a long time. Eager to meet him, they cross the city to reach the meeting place, but he doesn’t show up. The film landed its world premiere at the last edition of Locarno Festival, Switzerland.

Written and directed by Rim Nakhli, the film is produced by Inside Production (Moncef Taleb), and stars Nour El Houda Habbessi and Ayoub Behi. The film received a fund from the Tunisien Ministry of Cultural Affairs. MAD Solutions is in charge of the film’s distribution in the Arab world.

Screening Times of MAD Films at Zurich Film Festival

Streams
Tuesday, September 28th, at 6:30 PM
Wednesday, September 29th, at 8:30 PM
Sunday, October 3rd, at 2:45 PM

Tlamess
Thursday, September 23rd, at 6:00 PM
Sunday, September 26th, at 4:15 PM
Sunday, October 3rd, at 9:00 PM

A Tale Of Love and Desire
Monday, September 27th, at 6:00 PM
Tuesday, September 28th, at 9:30 PM
Saturday, October 2nd, at 9:30 PM

Railway Men
Thursday, September 23rd, at 9:15 PM
Sunday, September 26th, at 3:00 PM
Friday, October 1st, at 3:15 PM

Hedi
Saturday, September 25th, at 9:30 PM
Friday, October 1st, at 9:00 PM
Saturday, October 2nd, at 3:45 PM

Noor
Saturday, September 25th, at 6:45 PM
Monday, September 27th, at 9:30 PM
Friday, October 1st, at 7:30 PM