Just a week ahead of its Arab world premiere within the Muhr Feature Competition of the 14th Dubai International Film Festival, MAD Solutions has acquired the Arab world distribution rights to the film The Journey by director Mohamed Al Daradji, which made its world premiere at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.

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 stars Zahraa Ghandour and Ameer Jbara and it is co-written by Isabelle Stead and Mohamed Al Daradji, who also directs the film. 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 film received grants fromthe Doha Film Institute, AFAC - The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, World Cinema Fund, the Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image Animée (CNC) and the French Institute (IF) of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Netherlands Film Fund, SANAD Development Fund (Abu Dhabi Film Festival) and Screen Yorkshire.

Born in Baghdad in 1978, Mohamed Al Daradji studied film and television at the Media Academy in Hilversum in The Netherlands and completed his Masters' degree in Cinematography and Directing at Leeds Beckett University's Northern Film School in Leeds, UK. In 2005, he directed his first feature film Ahlaam, which received more than six awards, and in 2009, he directed the film Son of Babylon that strengthened his international reputation after screening at the Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals. Al Daradji co-directed the film In My Mother's Arms (2011), which screened at more than 50 film festivals and won more than 10 international awards, with his brother Atea Al Daradji. His film In the Sands of Babylon (2013) won three awards at international film festivals. His latest feature film is The Journey (2017).