release date June 03 2025
MAD Solutions wins big at 25th Rotterdam Arab Film Festival
The 25th anniversary of the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival (May 28th - June 1st) saw a series of successful wins for four top MAD films: YUNAN, THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US!, GREEN LINE, and MY DRIVER AND I, which collectively received four awards and two special mentions.
YUNAN, by Ameer Fakher Eldin, won Best Film and Best Actor, the latter of which went to lead actor George Khabbaz.
World premiered at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, the film tells the tale of Munir who, on a remote island, seeks solitude to contemplate suicide, only to find solace in the quiet presence of Valeska, whose compassion reignites his fading will to live.
Written, directed, and edited by Ameer Fakher Eldin, YUNAN boasts a remarkable cast that includes Georges Khabbaz, Hanna Schygulla, Ali Suliman, Sibel Kekilli, and Tom Wlaschiha. The film’s stirring musical score is composed by the award-winning Jordanian-Canadian musician and MAD Crew Celebrity Suad Bushnaq.
Directed by Laila Abbas, the Palestinian sister-heist film THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US! nabbed a Best Screenplay Award.
In it, two sisters must get their hands on their inheritance before their brother finds out and claims half of the money. Both a drama and a comedy, it is notably the last film shot in the occupied territory of Ramallah before the events of the ongoing genocide.
Lauded by critics and viewers alike, the film has had quite an extensive run at global film festivals; premiering at BFI London and winning a slew of awards since, including a Silver Alexander for Best Director at Thessaloniki Film Festival, a Golden Star at El Gouna Film Festival, the top prize at the Golden Rooster Awards, and another Best Screenplay at the Mälmo Arab Film Festival. It stars Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, and Kamel El Basha.
GREEN LINE, which garnered a Special Mention, is a documentary by Sylvie Ballot that uses miniature sets to recount the events of the Lebanese Civil War. This encapsulating documentary notably won a MUBI Award, as well as a First Prize at the Locarno International Film Festival prior.
MY DRIVER AND I by Ahd Kamel received a Special Mention as well as a Best Actress Award, which went out to lead Roula Dakheelallah.
Starring Mostafa Shehata, Roula Dakheelallah, Mishaal, and Raya Meddine, the film follows the friendship between Salma, a privileged Saudi girl, and Qamar, her Sudanese driver, whose relationship is tested when she starts taking the wheel.
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