MAD Solutions Takes Part in the Arab Women Film Festival in Sweden with 3 Films

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The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul | 17 | Lollipop

MAD Solutions Takes Part in the Arab Women Film Festival in Sweden with 3 Films


MAD Solutions is taking part in the 3rd Arab Women Film Festival in Sweden with three films from its distribution list. The festival takes place in the cities of Helsingborg and Malmö, South of Sweden, from 2 to 4 March. The feature film titled The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul will be screened in the presence of its star Jordanian actress Saba Mubarak and its Turkish director Andaç Haznederoğlu, as well as the Jordanian documentary 17 in the presence of its director Widad Shafakoj, and the short Saudi film Lollipop by director Hanaa Saleh Alfassi.

The Arab Women Film Festival is a film festival focusing on films made by Arab women or about Arab women. The festival is organized by Malmö Arab Film Festival, aiming to highlight the great plethora of Arab women directors, writers and actresses, as well as to raise questions about equality, feminism and women's rights. The festival includes an extensive program of features, shorts, documentaries as well as seminars, bazaars and festivities. All the participating films are voted on by the audience.

About The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul

The film follows the journey of Lena and Meryem during their escape from the war in Syria. Lena is a ten-year-old girl who has lost her family in the war. She finds herself forced to make her way to Turkey with her baby sister and their neighbor Meryem, along with the other refugees. Lena wants to return home, while Meryem's hope is reach Europe.

Written and directed by Turkish director Andaç Haznederoğlu, The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul stars Saba Mubarak and child Rawan Skeif, alongside a number of real Syrian refugees who are acting for the first time.

The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul is a co-production between the Turkish companies; Andaç Film Productions, Istanbul Digital (ID) and Istanbul Film Production (IFP); and the Jordanian company Pan East Media. The film project has received financial support from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. MAD Solutions is handling the film's distribution in the Arab world.

About 17:

17 follows the Jordanian under-17 women's football team as they prepare for the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016. Coming from different backgrounds, each of the girls has faced a different set of challenges as a national team player. But now they come together to face their biggest challenge yet.

17 is a social exploration into the lives of young women who are passionate about a sport they have been told was only for men. Will Anoud make it in the final squad? Will Leen be ready to play in this world-class event with so little time to prepare? Will the odds finally start working for the team?
The film is directed by Widad Shafakoj, produced by Muna Fityani and distributed in the Arab world by MAD Solutions. In 2017, the film took part in the Carthage Film Festival in Tunisia and the Arab Film Festival in California, USA.

About Lollipop

A 14-year-old Muslim girl experiences the onset of puberty, meaning she must begin wearing a full black niqab. When her tormentor at school swipes her jacket, a case of mistaken identity exposes the perversity of the bully's father. The film's world premiere was held at the 14th Dubai International Film Festival within the Short Muhr competition.

Lollipop is directed by Hanaa Saleh Alfassi and stars Malak Radwan, Ayman Samman, Sarah Alhazmi. It is also produced by Hanaa Saleh Alfassi, Shannon Emigh, Co-founder of Axe Pictures (USA), alongside Alex Lampsos and Malika Frikouk, Executive Producer and Co-founder of the Moroccan branch of the company. The film was partly funded by Enjaaz, Dubai Film Market's production support programme, and is distributed within the Arab world by MAD Solutions.

Screening Times of the Films at the Arab Women Film Festival in Sweden (GMT+1)
The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul | Malmö: March 3rd at 7:00 pm at Panora
17 | Helsingborg: March 3rd at 4:45 pm at Röda Kvarn
17 | Malmö: March 4th at 1:00 pm at Panora
Lollipop | Helsingborg: March 3rd at 3:00 pm at Röda Kvarn
Lollipop | Malmö: March 4th at 3:00 pm at Panora