The Journey Takes Part in Oran International Arabic Film Festival in Algeria

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Winner of Five Awards at International Film Festivals

The Journey Takes Part in Oran International Arabic Film Festival in Algeria


After winning five awards at international film festivals, The Journey by director Mohamed Al-Daradji is competing in the 11th Oran International Arabic Film Festival, which will be held from 25 to 31 July. The film screening will be attended by the film's director Mohamed Al-Daradji, star Ameer Jbara andDutch-Algerian director Kareem Taraydyea.

The festival will feature 30 films, including ten feature films, ten short films and ten documentaries competing for its awards. The festival will also offer workshops for young people interested in cinema on different topics, such as the visual effects, short filmmaking. Furthermore, the festival will honor the late great Egyptian star Shadia and the late Algerian director Farouk Beloufa.

Most recently, The Journey landed its Jordanian premiere at the 24th edition of the Franco Arab Film Festival, organized by the Institut Français in Jordan. The film won the Jury Award and Best Actress Award at the Muscat International Film Festival, in addition to the Special Jury Award at its Egyptian premiere at the Sharm El-Sheikh Film Festival, and two awards at the Festival des Cinémas Arabes à Paris (Arab Cinema Festival in Paris), France; the Grand Prize of the Arab World Institute for director Mohamed Al-Daradji and the Best Actress Award for star Zahraa Ghandour.

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?

The Journey was released in Iraqi theaters and toured more than ten film festivals around the world. The film landed its Arab world premiere at the 14th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) within the Muhr Feature Competition. It also competed in the official competitions of the BFI London Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival. The Journey made its US premiere at the Miami Film Festival. The film screened at the Cairo Cinema Days in Egypt.

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.