MAR MAMA — an extraordinary drama short film directed by Majdi El-Omari — is gearing up for its highly anticipated world premiere in the 11th edition of the Indie Cork Festival, which will be taking place from December 15th to the 22nd in Ireland.
 
The short is scheduled to screen twice as part of the third package of shorts of the World Shorts Program — the first on December 18th at 1:30 pm and once again on December, 22nd at 6 pm.
 
MAR MAMA is a deeply emotional and personal exploration of the struggles faced by parents in war zones as they strive to protect their children. It also offers a unique insight into the local traditions and beliefs surrounding the Palestinian national figure Mar Jeris (Saint George), who is a symbol of protection and resistance against evil.
 
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Majdi El-Omari, the film delves into the story of a young girl haunted by her mother's death and the recurring attacks on her city. Faced with these traumas, she becomes obsessed with death. As her father attempts to distract her by creating a stop-motion film, reality intrudes, and she finds solace in her imagination and fantasies.
 
The film's production is a collaboration between Marsam 301 and Phoenix Films, with Majdi El-Omari serving as the writer, producer, and director, and MAD Solutions handling worldwide distribution. MAR MAMA also features a talented cast, including the award-winning Palestinian actor Ziad Bakri, who is known for SCREWDRIVER and Netflix’s THE WEEKEND AWAY, and Lana Abu Srour.
 
Before that, the film received support from the Palestinian Ministry of Culture through the Palestinian Cultural Fund and the Arab Fund For Arts And Culture.
 
Majdi El-Omari is a Canadian Palestinian filmmaker, editor, and scriptwriter whose work usually focuses on people’s suffering from a world that excludes them, focusing on their alienation, desire to communicate, and search for solace while they confront political or social forces. Several of his shorts have been selected for several international festivals.
 
In addition to shorts, his filmography includes several documentaries, such as STANDSTILL, BETWEEN ME AND YOU, AT THE WINDOW, A’ PROPS DE L'AUTRE, and THE EVERGREEN OAK. He is currently writing his next feature film, THE WOMAN OF THE BEES.