Iraqi film In the Sands of Babylon pulled off the Best Actor Award at the FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DU CINEMA DE DAKHLA in Morocco within the Official Competition as it competed against 6 other Arab films. The award was given to Samer Qahtan for his role in the film which is directed by Mohamed Jabarah Al Daradji.

During the 72nd Venice Film Festival, the film won The City of Venice award, and also received the Best Film from the Arab World at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival which hosted its World Premiere. It also landed the first Iraqi official nomination for the Peace Prize from Cinema and Peace Foundation at Berlin International Film Festival 2015. The film has also been part of the world's most prestigious film festivals such as San Sebastian International Film Festival, the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and Raindance Film Festival.

Last month, MAD Solutions announced the acquisition of Arab world distribution rights for Mohamed Jabarah Al Daradji's feature In the Sands of Babylon through the Iraqi Ministry of Culture's Baghdad as Arab Culture Capital project, following the film's standout participations in distinguished film festivals and events, becoming one of the most successful films in Iraqi cinema.

In the film, Daradji presents the story of Ibrahim, an Iraqi soldier who escapes from Kuwait after the Iraqi army's defeat in 1991. Caught up in a hazardous journey home, the runaway soldier is captured by the Republican Guard who cast him into prison where he is subjected to the cruelest tortures. Just when Ibrahim's fate seems like it is sealed forever, the people pf Southern Iraq rise yp outside the prison gates bringing hope to the captives.

Written and directed by Mohamed Jabarah Al Daradji, the film stars Samer Qahtan, Ameer Jabarah, Hasan Bkheet and Hayder Jumaa.

Born in Baghdad 1978, Al Daradji studied at the Media Academy in Hilversum, Netherlands, then at Northern Film School in Leeds, UK. In 2005, he presented his feature debut Dreams and in 2009 Son of Babylon which established his name in the international scene following successful screenings at Berlinale and Sundance festivals. Jabarah has also co-directed with his brother Atiiah Al Daradji in In My Mother's Arms which was part of more than 50 festivals and film events and received more than 10 international awards.