Animated film DOUNIA AND THE PRINCESS OF ALEPPO to screen in Aleppo as part of Echo of Freedom… Our Story Week

release date March 23 2025

Following its extensive global festival tour, Marya Zarif and André Kadi's Canadian-French animation DOUNIA AND THE PRINCESS OF ALEPPO is set to screen in the Syrian city of Aleppo as part of the Echo of Freedom… Our Story Week, commemorating the Syrian revolution.

Organized by Karasi Collective and Orshina Community, the screening will take place at 10 pm on Sunday, March 23rd.

The animated feature follows six-year-old Dounia, who, with a few nigella seeds delicately held in the palm of her hand, embarks on a journey from Aleppo, guided by the Princess of Aleppo, as they set off towards a new and unknown world.

Receiving rave reviews from international critics, DOUNIA AND THE PRINCESS OF ALEPPO has been described as an "enchanting, appealingly animated story" and "a picture of considerable charm" by Wendy Ide from Screen Daily.

Additionally, Maryam Philpott from Reviews Hub praised the film's "humanity" and its "strength," noting that "across the 70-minute running time, the good-humored and comedic characters, as well as the scale of their mission, is captivating, making DOUNIA AND THE PRINCESS OF ALEPPO a meaningful and enchanting cinema experience."

The animated feature world premiered as part of the Official Competition of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and has since screened at over 60 international and Arab film festivals, including the Red Sea, Marrakech, Cinemamed, Hong Kong Kids, Ajyal, Tromsø, Athens, Thessaloniki, and New York Children's Film Festivals.

The film has also garnered several awards, including the Grand Prize at the Japan Prize and the Audience Award at the Jordan Children's Film Festival. Additionally, it received an Asia Pacific Screen Award nomination for Best Animated Feature Film and a Prix Iris nomination for Most Successful Film Outside Quebec at the 25th Quebec Cinema Awards.

Written by Marya Zarif and lensed by Marie-Michelle Laflamme, the film features voice performances by Rachaf Ataya, Elsa Mardorissian, Manuel Tadros, and Raïa Haidar. With MAD Distribution handling the film's distribution and sales across the Arab world, DOUNIA AND THE PRINCESS OF ALEPPO was produced by Judith Beauregard of Tobo Studio.

Marya Zarif is a multidisciplinary artist who has honed her expertise in multiplatform design, screenplay writing, and directing over a career spanning 15 years. With a background in communications and drama writing, she holds a degree from the National Institute of Image and Sound.

Originally from Syria, Marya grew up in Aleppo, which gave her intimate knowledge of the town that serves as the backdrop for Dounia, as well as the numerous challenges faced by Syrians since the onset of the war.

As for Andre' Kadi, he arrived in Canada in 2007 as a graphic novel author and musician, joining Frima Animation Studios, where he dedicated over 11 years of his career. As head of the artistic department, he established a branch of the studio in Bordeaux and pioneered a 2D animation studio in 2012. Notably, he created the series MAXI and AGENT JEAN before co-founding Du Coup Animation in 2018 with Marie-Michel le Laflamme, later expanding it into Du Coup Production in 2021.