4 Arab films to be screened at the Toronto Film Festival
The Middle East represents at the prestigious Canadian event
Running from September 4 to 14, this year's SANAD films which will be be screened at the TIFF, include two narrative films - Theeb and The Valley – and two documentaries – Iraqi Odyssey and The Wanted 18.
Ali Al Jabri, director of Abu Dhabi Film Festival said: "This achievement is a testament to ADFF and SANAD's success in supporting and developing international quality Arab films. It also demonstrates ADFF's continued support for filmmakers in the region."
Theeb – Naji Abu Nowar
This touching film – which is in TIFF's discovery category – follows the story of a young Bedouin boy named Theeb who lives with his Bedouin tribe in a forgotten corner of the Ottoman Empire. After losing his father, Theeb's brother, Hussein, is left to raise him, teaching him the Bedouin ways of life, but Theeb gets distracted by the life of mischief instead.
The Valley – Ghassan Salhab
Following the screening of his 2011 film, The Mountain, Salhab’s new film, The Valley, is participating in the contemporary world of cinema category. The story revolves around a man who loses his memory following a car accident in the Beqaa Valley. While helpless and lost, he is held hostage on a local farm that doubles as an illegal-substances factory.
Iraqi Odyssey – Samir
Created by Swiss-Iraqi director Samir, well-known for his film Forget Baghdad in 2002 – Iraqi Odyssey – which will be featured in TIFF's documentaries category – is a 3D adventure that tells the story of the director's immigrant family that travelled for half a century during the fifties and sixties.
The Wanted 18 – Amer Al Shomali and Paul Cowan
The Wanted 18 unites the creative direction of Palestinian director Amer Al Shomali and Canadian director Paul Cowan, as they sarcastically recreate an astonishing true story from the First Palestinian Intifada.
