The Journey Screens at Cinema Akil for an Entire Week

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Iraq's Official Submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film and Winner of Nine International Awards

The Journey Screens at Cinema Akil for an Entire Week


As part of its theatrical tour across the Arab world, Director Mohamed Al Daradji's feature film The Journey will screen at Cinema Akil in the UAE for an entire week, starting May 17. The Journey was previously released in the UAE at Roxy Cinemas, and at Metropolis Cinemas in Lebanon, Grand Cinemas City Mall and Prime Cinemas Baraka Mall in Jordan, and Cinescape in Kuwait.

The film will screen daily from 17 to 23 May at 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm and on 24 and 25 May at 3:00 pm UAE time (GMT+4).

Cinema Akil is an independent cinema platform that brings quality films from across the world to audiences in the UAE. Showcasing directors and filmmakers across the decades, Cinema Akil aims to create awareness and interest in film and the cinematic arts.

Iraq's official submission to the 2019 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, The Journey won nine awards at international film festivals, including the Best Screenplay award at the 1st Casablanca Arab Film Festival in Morocco, Best Actress award to its lead Zahraa Ghandour at the 4th Asian World Film Festival in Los Angeles, Best Director award and Best Actress award to Zahraa Ghandour at the Malmö Arab Film Festival in Sweden, Special Mention at the Oran Arabic International Film Festival in Algeria, Jury Award and Best Actress Award at the Muscat International Film Festival, Special Jury Award at its Egyptian premiere at the Sharm El-Sheikh Film Festival, in addition to the Grand Prize of the Arab World Institute to director Mohamed Al Daradji and Best Actress Award to Zahraa Ghandour at the Festival des Cinémas Arabes à Paris in France.

The Journey world premiered at the 14th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), within its Muhr Feature competition and screened at more than 10 international festivals all over the world, including the Palestine Cinema Days, Karama Human Rights Film Festival in Jordan, Rabat International Festival for Author's Cinema, and the Arab Film Festival Zurich. The film competed in the official competitions of the BFI London Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival. The film made its US premiere at the Miami Film Festival. The Journey also screened at the Cairo Cinema Days in Egypt.

Set in Baghdad in 2006. As Sara stands on the cusp of committing an unthinkable act, an unforeseen and awkward encounter gives her the opportunity to witness the potential consequences of her destructive action. But is this a second chance or an admission of guilt?

Directed by Mohamed Al Daradji, who co-wrote the film with Isabelle Stead, The Journey stars Zahraa Ghandour and Ameer Jbara. The film is produced by Human Film, Iraqi Independent Film Center (IIFC), in cooperation with Lionceau Films, Iraq Al-Rafidain and Iraqi Media Network. The Journey received grants from the Doha Film Institute, AFAC - The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, World Cinema Fund (WCF), the Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image Animée (CNC) of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Institut Français, Netherlands Film Fund, SANAD Development Fund (Abu Dhabi Film Festival) and Screen Yorkshire. The film is distributed in the Arab world by MAD Solutions.