MAD Solutions shall send 4 films on its distribution list to the Duhok International Film Festival (November 15th - 22nd). These films are; Lebanese film The Sea Ahead by director Ely Dagher (World Feature Competition), Afghan film The Orphanage by Shahrbanoo Sadat (Focus Country), Iraqi film Haifa Street by Mohanad Hayal (World Feature Vision), and short film Unspoken by Mohammed Alghadhban (World Short Competition).
 
Held in Duhok governorate, Kurdistan region in Iraq, Duhok International Film Festival brings together a plethora of films from inside and outside the region.
 
About The Sea Ahead:
Previously landing its world premiere at the 74th Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight, and screening at El Gouna Film Festival, The Sea Ahead follows Jana, who returns to Beirut after having been away for a long time. Suddenly, she finds herself reconnecting with the familiar yet strange life she had once left behind.
 
Directed and written by Ely Dagher, The Sea Ahead, his feature debut, stars Manal Issa,
Yara Abou Haidar, Rabih El Zaher and Roger Azar. The film is produced by Andolfi (Arnaud Dommerc), in association with Beachside, and co-produced by Abbout Productions (Myriam Sassine); Wrong Men and Beaver and Beaver. The film is distributed in the Arab world by MAD Solutions.
 
About The Orphanage:
In the late 1980s, 15-year-old Qodrat lives in the streets of Kabul and sells cinema tickets on the black market. He is a big Bollywood fan and he daydreams about his favorite movie scenes. One day the Police brings him to the Soviet orphanage. But in Kabul the political situation is changing. Qodrat and all the children want to defend their home.
 
Written and directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat, The Orphanage is inspired by the diaries of Anwar Hashimi, who stars in it alongside Qodratollah Qadiri, Sediqa Rasuli, Masihullah Feraji, Hasibullah Rasooli and Anwar Hashimi. The film is produced by Katja Adomeit and distributed in the Arab world by MAD Solutions.
 
About Haifa Street:
The film previously won numerous international awards. Set in Baghdad in 2006, Haifa Street is one of the most dangerous places suffering from the civil war and violence that has plagued the city. When Ahmed is dropped off there by a taxi on his way to his beloved Suad's house to ask for her hand in marriage, he gets shot by Salam, an anxious young sniper who is living his own personal hell on a rooftop above. Suad desperately tries to save Ahmed, but Salam prevents anyone from approaching him under the threat of gunfire. When her daughter Nadia elicits the help of their cunning neighbor, Dalal, all hell breaks loose under the ominous presence of the American occupation.
 
Directed by Mohanad Hayal, who co-wrote it with Hala Alsalman, Haifa Street stars Ali Thamer, Asad Abdulmajeed, Yumna Marwan, and Iman Abdulhassan, and produced by Sumerian Dream Productions (Ali Raheem). Wide Management handles the film's worldwide distribution, while MAD Solutions handles its distribution and marketing across the Arab world.