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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA holds a successful world premiere at 78th Cannes
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA holds a successful world premiere at 78th Cannes
Tarzan and Arab Nasser’s highly anticipated comedy-drama ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA world premiered on May 19th to resounding applause as part of the Uncertain Regard of the prestigious 78th Cannes Film Festival, captivating audiences and critics alike.Screened at the elegant Salle Debussy, ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA was also met with a standing ovation and garnered widespread praise for its thought-provoking storytelling, powerful performances, and sharp humor, with twin directors Tarzan and Arab Nasser expressing heartfelt gratitude to the film’s cast and crew for making it all possible.
They also said, “There are no words to express our feelings as Gazans. After more than a year, Gaza is enduring the most horrific genocide in modern history... Israel has killed more than 60,000 Gazans, and the killings continue every day. I don’t know if we can keep speaking after this prolonged period of genocide, but silence is a crime.”
“We hope this genocide ends soon. My family and friends are there. By the way, we have two brothers who just survived and managed to escape from the North of Gaza, which they never left since the beginning of the war. The details are truly horrific. One day, this genocide will stop, and when we hear the details and stories, it will be a great shame on humanity,” they added.
The world premiere was attended by the film’s cast and crew, including lead actors Nader Abd Alhay and Majd Eid. Also present at the screening were several renowned talents from across the Arab World, including producer Ahmed Amer, director Ameer Fakher Eldin, director Morad Mostafa, producer Dorra Bouchoucha, and celebrated actor Dhafer L’Abidine, along with all the producers and co-producers who played a vital role in bringing this cinematic masterpiece to life.
Critics were also quick to write about the film, with Bahraini critic Tareq Al-Bahar stating in Al-Bilad news website, "With ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA, Tarzan and Arab Nasser demonstrate their masterful use of cinematic techniques in a stunning and, at times, lyrical film, showcasing their dynamic camerawork and captivating lighting."
The film will screen thrice more, once on May 20th at 1:15 pm at Salle Bazin, again at 2 pm on the same day at Cinema Aurore, and finally at 9:15 am on May 21st at Cineum Screen X.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA explores the gripping story of Yahya, a young student who forges a friendship with Osama, a charismatic restaurant owner with a big heart. Together, they begin peddling drugs while delivering falafel sandwiches, but they are soon forced to grapple with a corrupt cop and his oversized ego.
An international co-production between France, Palestine, Germany, and Portugal with Qatar and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the film boasts a stellar cast that includes Nader Abd Alhay, who is known for his role as Sami in FARAH, which is streaming now on Netflix; Ramzi Maqdisi (GHOST HUNTING, awarded Best Documentary at the Berlinale), Majd Eid (Cannes Winning title HOLY SPIDER); DOP Christophe Graillot (RIDE ABOVE) and editor Sophie Reine, who won the Best Editing Award at the César Awards for her work in THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Directed by the Nasser Brothers from a screenplay co-written with Amer Nasser and Marie Legrand, ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA is produced by Rani Massalha and Marie Legrand from Les Films du Tambour and Muriel Merlin of Lyly Productions.
Additionally, the film was co-produced with Rise Studios (Amanda Turnbull and Ziad Srouji), Made in Palestine Project (Rashid Abdelhamid), Red Balloon Film (Dorothe Benemeier), Riva Filmproduktion (Mickael Eckelt and Lena Zimmerhackel), Ukbar Filmes (Pandora Da Cunha Telles and Pablo Iraola), and executive produced by Jordan Pioneers Multi Media & Slate Films Services (Khaled Haddad) in association with A. A. Films (Ahmed Amer), Cocoon Films (Sawsan Asfari), Radio e Televisao De Portugal, and Kometa (Edyta Janczak-Hiriart).
MAD Distribution manages the film’s distribution and sales across the Arab world, The Party Film Sales oversees international sales, while Dulac Distribution handles the French distribution rights.
Throughout its production phases, the film received support from prestigious institutions, including Aide aux Cinémas du Monde - CNC, Eurimages, Moin Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, Fundo CNC-Ica De Apoio A Coproducao Franco-Portuguesa, the Doha Film Institute, the Royal Film Commission’s Jordan Film Fund, and Ciclic And Région Centre-Val De Loire.
Twin brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser were born in Gaza in 1988. In 2013, their short film CONDOM LEAD was selected for the Main Competition at Cannes. Their first feature film, DÉGRADÉ, also premiered as part of Cannes’ Critics’ Week. Their second feature, GAZA MON AMOUR, premiered in the Horizons Program of the Venice International Film Festival and was Palestine’s submission to the 2021 Academy Awards.
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