MAD Solutions is set to screen six films from its distribution slate at the Arabisk Film Festival in Norway, which will be running from April 20th to the 23rd. 
 
The lineup includes four feature films — Zaid Abu Hamdan's DAUGHTERS OF ABDULRAHMAN, Erige Sehiri's UNDER THE FIG TREES, Firas Khoury's ALAM, and Leyla Bouzid's A TALE OF LOVE AND DESIRE — and the documentaries FROM MEIR TO MEIR by Maggie Morgan and GAZA SURF CLUB by Philip Gnadt and Mickey Yamine.
 
First in the lineup is DAUGHTERS OF ABDULRAHMAN. The four-time Audience Award winner will be the festival's opening film, screening twice at Cinemateket, USF Verftet — once on Thursday, April 20th at 6 pm and the other on Friday, April 21st at 7 pm.
 
The film follows the story of four estranged and offbeat sisters forced to come together to find their suddenly missing father years after escaping a dictated life.
 
Next up is UNDER THE FIG TREES, which was Tunisia's official submission at the 2023 Oscars for Best International Feature Film. The film will be screened on Friday, April 21st at 8:30 pm at BFK: Tivolisalen, Det Akademiske Kvarter.
 
Taking place over the course of a day, UNDER THE FIG TREES presents an intergenerational dialogue between a group of teens and older folk as they work the summer harvest, catch feelings, attempt to understand each other, and navigate the complicated terrain of building deeper ties.
 
Third in the lineup is ALAM, which world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and Arab world premiered at the Cairo International Film Festival, nabbing three awards — the Youssef Cherif Rizkallah's Audience Award, a Golden Pyramid, and Best Actor Award for Mahmoud Bakri.
 
The film will be screened on Sunday, April 23rd at 7 pm at the Cinemateket, USF Verftet.
 
The film follows the story of Tamer, a Palestinian teen who lives the life of a typical high school student. When Tamer meets the beautiful Maysaa' one day, he agrees to join her in a mysterious and life-changing operation dubbed 'ALAM.'
 
Fourth is A TALE OF LOVE AND DESIRE, which world premiered at the Cannes Film Festival's International Critics' Week and screened at over 20 film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival, and Red Sea International Film Festival.
 
The film will be screened twice at Cinemateket, USF Verftet on Saturday, April 22nd at 7 pm and on Sunday, April 23rd at 5 pm.
 
The film follows Ahmed, a French teenager of Algerian origin who meets Farah — a young Tunisian girl — and falls head over heels in love with her. While discovering a collection of sensual and erotic Arab literature, Ahmed tries to resist his desire for Farah.
 
A TALE OF LOVE AND DESIRE is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
 
MAD Solutions' penultimate entry in the Arabisk Film Festival is FROM MEIR TO MEIR, which won the NUT Award for Best Egyptian Film Supporting Women's Work at the fifth Aswan International Women's Film Festival, as well as the Jury Award for Best Documentary Film Over 15 Minutes at The National Egyptian Film Festival.
 
The film will be screened twice on Friday, April 21st at noon at BFK: Tivolisalen, Det Akademiske Kvarter, and once more at the same time on Saturday, April 22nd at Cinemateket, USF Verftet.
 
Set in Upper Egypt in the village of Meir, Egyptian filmmaker Morgan interviews various villagers over the course of twelve years. During these interviews, she discovers the world's beauty and complexities, which her grandmother is entirely fascinated by.
 
FROM MEIR TO MEIR is also currently available for streaming on Netflix.
 
Finally, the last entry in the lineup is GAZA SURF CLUB — a documentary that world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and screened at over 18 acclaimed festivals, including the Carthage Film Festival (JCC).
 
The film will be screened on Friday, April 21st at 4 pm at BFK: Tivolisalen, Det Akademiske Kvarter.
 
Trapped in "the world's largest open-air prison" and ruled by war, a new generation is drawn to the beaches. Sick of occupation and political gridlock, they find their freedom in the waves of the Mediterranean. They are the surfers of Gaza.