Three films distributed by MAD Solutions will screen as part of the European Film Market (EFM) (15 - 23 February) that will be held within the 68th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). The MAD films are; The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul by director Andaç Haznederoğlu, The Reports on Sarah and Saleem by director Muayad Alayan and The Journey by director Mohamed Al-Daradji.

The European Film Market (EFM) is one of the most important international film industry gatherings includes 543 exhibitors, 9,230 professionals from 110 countries, including 1,623 international buyers and 1,124 screenings of 784 films.Film buyers and sellers, producers, distributors and financiers as well as representatives of the global TV, Home Entertainment and New Media market get up-to-date on the latest productions and developments in the global film scene, negotiate film rights and make or foster business network.

About The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul:

The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul follows the journey of Lena and Meryem during their escape from the war in Syria. Lena is a ten-year-old girl who has lost her family in the war. She finds herself forced to make her way to Turkey with her baby sister and their neighbor Meryem, along with the other refugees. Lena wants to return home, while Meryem's hope is reach Europe.

The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul won the Best Feature Film Award and Best Editing Award, to Editor Ahmed Hafez, in the National Feature Films Competition of the International Bosphorus Film Festival. This is the film's second screening in Turkey after screening at the Antalya Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award.

Written and directed by Turkish director Andaç Haznederoğlu, The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul stars Saba Mubarak and child Rawan Skeif, alongside a number of real Syrian refugees who are acting for the first time.

The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul is a co-production between the Turkish companies; Andaç Film Productions, Istanbul Digital (ID) and Istanbul Film Production (IFP); and the Jordanian company Pan East Media. The film project has received financial support from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. MAD Solutions is handling the film's distribution in the Arab world.

About The Reports on Sarah and Saleem:

Set in Jerusalem, Sarah and Saleem are having an extramarital affair that ignites a dangerous game of deceit between those who hold power and those who don't.

Most recently, The Reports on Sarah and Saleem won the Special Jury Award for Best Screenplay and the Audience Award (Hubert Bals) at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) where it was the first Palestinian feature film to be selected in the festival's Official Competition (Hivos Tiger).

The film won the production support of the Arab Fund for the Arts and Culture (AFAC), Film Lab Palestine, World Cinema Fund (WCF), Hubert Bals Development Fund (HBF), the Netherlands Film Fund + HBF and the HBF + Europe coproduction scheme among others. Directed by Muayad Alayan, The Reports on Sarah and Saleem stars Maisa Abd Elhadi, Adeeb Safadi and Kamel El Basha and written by Rami Alayan. The film is a joint production between PalCine Productions (Palestine) and co-producers KeyFilm (Netherlands), Manderley Films GmbH (Germany), and Monofilms (Mexico). The leading Arab world partner, MAD Solutions, handles the distribution of the film in 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.

The film is 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.

Screening Times of MAD Solutions' Filmsat the European Film Market (EFM) within the Berlinale (GMT+1)

The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul
Sunday, February 18 at 09:00 am at CINEMAX 9
The Reports on Sarah and Saleem
Monday, February 19 at 10:00 am at CINEMAX 15
Wednesday, February 21 at 06:30 pm at CINEMAX 13
The Journey
Monday, February 19 at 02:30 pm at CINEMAX 9