Between Heaven and Earth Releases at Jordanian Theatres

Continuing its Tour across the Arab World

Between Heaven and Earth Releases at Jordanian Theatres

Palestinian film Between Heaven and Earth by Director Najwa Najjar will release at Jordanian theatres, as of August 4. This comes as part of a collaboration between MAD Solutions and Arab Media Network (Abu-Lughod Studios)

Tareq Abu- Lughod, the film’s distributor in Jordan commented on that saying: " It’s an honor to screen Palestinian films and support their producers. This helps to keep the Palestinian issue present in culture and art activities."

While Moshira Farouk, Culture and Theatrical Distribution Manager of MAD Solutions, said: "We are glad to collaborate with Arab Media Network and to be responsible for distributing Between Heaven and Earth across Arab countries, especially that the film has achieved tremendous commercial success despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic."

The film’s release in Jordan comes as part of its tour across the Arab world. It started in Egypt where it received successful screenings at Zawya cinema that lasted for over six weeks. Also, it has been released for three weeks at Cinema Akil, UAE.

Upon its release, the film was praised by several critics, including Ken Loach who commented on the film saying: "Intriguing, central performances are touching… a really strong film." It was also described by Hollywood Reporter as: "Contemporary, fresh eye to the visuals.", while Screen Daily’s referred to as: "Crowd-pleaser".

A thirty-something couple, Salma and Tamer, have been married for the past five years and living in the Palestinian Territory. The first time Tamer is ever given a three-day permit to cross the Israeli checkpoint, is to file for divorce in the courts in Nazareth. At the courthouse, they are confronted with a staggering discovery about the past of Tamer’s father; a secret which sends Salma and Tamer spinning on an emotional road trip exploring the loss and betrayal of the past, and of themselves.

Between Heaven and Earth has been selected to compete for the Golden Globe Awards and the European Film Awards. The film has garnered several awards at international festivals, including the Naguib Mahfouz Award for Best Screenplay, during the last edition of Cairo International Film Festival, Best Feature Audience Award at Boston Palestine Film Festival, and Best Male Performance at Mostra di Valencia Film Festival, Audience Award at Middle East Now Film Festival Florence, Special Mention at Mediterranean Women's Film Festival in Lisbon and Audience Award for Best Film from Arab Film Fest Collab feat

Written and directed by Palestinian filmmaker Najwa Najjar, the film is produced by Ustura Films, in co-production with Paul Thiltges Distributions (Luxembourg) and Oktober Films (Iceland). MAD Solutions handles the film’s Arab world distribution. In Jordan, it’s distributed as part of a collaboration between MAD Solutions and Arab Media Network (Abu-Lughod Studios).

Writer/Director Najwa Najjar has explored several new artistic grounds having written, directed and produced over a dozen critically acclaimed award-winning films premiering in Cairo, Berlin, Cannes, Locarno, and Sundance. In 2020 she received an invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

With an MA in Film (US), she has worked on both documentary and feature films since 2000. Her critically acclaimed debut was the feature film Pomegranates and Myrrh (2009), while her second award-winning film Eyes of a Thief (2014) was the Palestinian nomination for the 2015 Oscars Best Foreign Film. Her third feature film Between Heaven and Earth (2019) won the 41st Cairo IFF Naguib Mahfouz Best Screenplay award (now reaping more awards) and was selected at the European Film Academy Awards, Golden Globes Awards and the Asian Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) as well as being nominated to the Icelandic Film and Television Academy Awards. Currently, Najjar is working on her 4th feature film Kiss of a Stranger, a musical film.