MAD Films TETES BRULEES and YUNAN to screen at 72nd Sydney Film Festival

release date June 01 2025

Two standout films from MAD Solution’s distribution slate, TÊTES BRÛLÉES by Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama and YUNAN by Ameer Fakher Eldin, are heading to this year’s Sydney Film Festival (June 4th – 15th), and both are getting not one, but two screenings each.

TÊTES BRÛLÉES is set to screen at 2 pm on Saturday, June 14th at Palace Central Cinemas - Cinema 1, and again at 6:30 pm on Sunday, June 15th at Palace Norton Street - Cinema 3.

Meanwhile, YUNAN is scheduled for 8 pm on Wednesday, June 11th at Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 11, and again at 8:30 pm on Sunday, June 15th at Dendy Newtown - Cinema 2.

TÊTES BRÛLÉES is a coming-of-age story shaped by tragedy that follows 12-year-old Eya as she comes to grips with the sudden loss of her older brother Younes, with whom she shared an intense and inseparable bond. Immersed in a deeply codified and intense grieving process, she draws on her creativity, resilience, and the support of Younès’ friends to come to terms with his passing and carve out her own path toward adulthood.

The film held its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it received two Special Mentions, and later competed in the Talents Section of the D'A Barcelona Auteur Film Festival.

It is produced by Marc Goyens (HERE, GHOST TROPIC) and Nabil Ben Yadir (ANIMALS), lensed by Grimm Vandekerckhove (HERE, GHOST TROPIC), edited by Dieter Diependaele (HERE, GHOST TROPIC), with Eve Martin handling production design, Marie McCourt casting, and David Vranken sound design. Additionally, the film’s international sales are handled by MAD World while MAD Distribution is in charge of its MENA-wide distribution.

As for the talents in front of the camera, TÊTES BRÛLÉES stars Safa Gharbaoui, Mehdi Bouziane, Mounir Amamra (DIVINES), Adnane El Haruati, Saber Tabi, Nicolas Makola, Mehdi Zellama, and Monia Taieb.

YUNAN follows the story of a disillusioned Arab author who travels from his exiled existence in Hamburg to a remote island in the North Sea with thoughts of suicide. There, he meets an elderly woman whose quiet humanity incites a reawakening of his desires in life.

YUNAN had its world premiere in the Official Competition at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), marking a strong start to its international journey. The film was also selected for the FESCAAAL – the African, Asian, and Latin American Film Festival in Italy, further solidifying its presence on the global festival circuit.

Directed, written, and edited by MAD Crew director Ameer Fakher Eldin, this life-affirming drama is a Canadian-German-Italian co-production, with Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia also having a hand in its making.

It stars Lebanese actor, director, and producer George Khabbaz, who co-wrote the Oscar-nominated film CAPERNAUM, which is notably the highest-grossing Arabic film of all time. The cast also includes German actress Hanna Schygulla, an iconic figure of New German Cinema who most recently starred in POOR THINGS; Palestinian actor Ali Suleiman, known for his leading roles in 200 METERS and the Oscar-nominated Palestinian film PARADISE NOW; as well as GAME OF THRONES stars Sibel Kekilli and Thomas Wlaschiha, with Lebanese theatre thespian Nidal El Ashkar.

The film is scored by the multiple award-winning MAD Crew composer Suad Bushnaq, lensed by Ronald Plante, with production design by Marie-Luise Balzer, and sound design by Kuen-Il Song. It is also produced by Dorothe Beinemeier, Catherine Chagnon, Marco Valerio Fusco, Micaela Fusco, in collaboration with Alaa Alasad, Hind Anabtawi, and executive produced by Paola Corvino and Co-Founders of MAD Solutions Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab. MAD Distribution oversees its distribution in the Arab World.