Three films distributed by MAD Solutions received awards at the Oran International Arabic Film Festival that ended its events yesterday Tuesday, 31 July. It is worth mentioning that MAD Solutions took part in the festival with six films; The Journey, Tunis by Night, Kilkis...The Town of Owls, Boody: The Sumo Pharaoh, 17, and Lolipop.

The Journey by director Mohamed Al-Daradji received a Special Mention, while star Amira Chebli received the Best Actress Award for her role in Tunis by Night, and director Azalarabe Alaoui won the Best Director Award for his film Kilkis...The Town of Owls that landed its world premiere at the festival.

About Kilkis...The Town of Owls:

Director Azalarabe Alaoui's film Kilkis...The Town of Owls landed its world premiere at the Oran International Arabic Film Festival. The film's events take place at the Town of Owls, an isolated residential community situated in the High Atlas Mountains. It is inhabited by families and guards of a secret political prison camp, which remained out of history for a long time until the early 1990s. The Town of Owls is in fact a titanic prison in which everyone, including guards and residents, are held detainees.

Written and directed by Azalarabe Alaoui, Kilkis...The Town of Owls stars Med Rzin, Amin Ennaji, Hassan Badida, Kamal Elkademi, and Asmae Srioui. MAD Solutions is handling the film's distribution.

About Tunis by Night

Tunis by Night follows Youssef, who after more than two decades working for Tunisia's national radio, is on his way to retirement. He is viciously cut off broadcasting during the last episode of his programme Tunis by Night. Youssef's family portrays the different lifestyles in Tunisia, as each member of his family suffers from major conflicts. Youssef takes refuge at the Saint George, the adjacent bar, where he empties his mind after emptying a few bottles of wine. He then runs away from his family to be engulfed by a city he does not recognize anymore...

Written and directed by Elyes Baccar, Tunis by Night stars Raouf Ben Amor, Amel Hedhili, Amira Chebli and Helmi Dridi. MAD Solutions is handling the film's distribution through the Arab world.

About The Journey:

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 is directed by Mohamed Al-Daradji, who co-writes and co-produces the film with Isabelle Stead. The film stars Zahraa Ghandour and Ameer Jbara and 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 from the 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. MAD Solutions handling the distribution of the film through the Arab world.