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Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie
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Five Films You Need to See at 4th Cairo Short Film Festival


Thu 15 Dec 2022 | 04:47 PM
By Pasant Elzaitony

Five of MAD Solutions' distribution slate are set to compete in the Official Competition of the fourth Cairo Shorts Film Festival – which will be held from December 17th to the 22nd.

The screenings will be held at the Artistic Creativity Center, Cinema Al-Hanager, and Al-Hadara Cinema at the Cairo Opera House free of charge.

The films are Ward Kayyal's HAMZA: CHASING THE GHOST CHASING ME, Mohamed Fawi's BUZZ, Murad Abu Eisheh's Tala'vision, Said Zagha's LOVESICK IN THE WEST BANK and May Ziady’s LIGHT BLUE.

The Cairo Shorts Film Festival is devoted to showcasing the best and brightest short films from Arab Filmmakers, advancing the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panels and forums.

Previously, two of MAD Solutions' films won awards at the 3rd Cairo Shorts Film Festival, those being Medhat Maged's 18/11, which won the Best Egyptian Short Film Award, and Suzannah Mirghani's AL-SIT, which won the Best Arab Short Film Award.

Learn more about MAD's films at the Cairo Shorts Film Festival:

HAMZA: CHASING THE GHOST CHASING ME

The film follows Hamza, a middle-aged man, who refuses to abandon a routine he has kept since his release from Israeli jail. He goes into the woods every day to chase a lion that the locals don't think exists.

Despite his wife's pleadings and the villagers' contempt, Hamza sets his bait and traps in the forest, hoping to defeat the mysterious threat, finding refuge in his journey after each battle.

In the woods, Hamza is free to act according to his beliefs, fighting his own battle to heal an open wound and confront horrific memories of torture and guilt.

Ward Kayyal's HAMZA: CHASING THE GHOST CHASING ME premiered at the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF).

The film is written by Majd Kayyal and stars Kamel El-Basha, Ruba Blal, Motaz Malhes, and Khulood Basel.

MAD Solutions is managing the film's marketing and distribution worldwide.

BUZZ

As her health deteriorates, a mother watches her son and daughter prepare for her inevitable passing and their new reality.

Produced by the makers of YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY and its award-winning director Amjad Abu Alala, BUZZ is directed by Mohamed Fawi – who also co-wrote the script with Ahmed Shaweesh and Noura Adil – and stars Jasour Abuelgasim, Zahra Mansour, and Ali Abdalgafar.

Mohamed Fawi's BUZZ premiered at the 44th Cairo International Film Festival

MAD Solutions is managing the film's distribution worldwide.

TALA'VISION

TALA'VISION follows the story of eight-year-old Tala, who lives in a war-torn reality. She, however, finds her solace and salvation in watching television – a banned activity that later escalates to a matter of life and death.

The monumental short won Best Narrative Film at the Student Academy Awards competition of the Oscars, going down in history as the first Arab film to do so. Also, it garnered the Golden Yusr for Short Films at the Red Sea Film Festival and Best Short, Best Male Director, and Best Cinematography awards at the Indie Short Awards Cannes in France. The film is available on Netflix.

Written and directed by Murad Abu Eisheh, the film stars Ziad Bakri, Aesha Balasem, and Khalid Al-Tarifi. The film was co-produced by Jordan's Tabi 360 and Germany's Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.

MAD Solutions is managing the film's distribution in the Arab world.

LOVESICK IN THE WEST BANK

Based on true events and starring Ali Suleiman, a Palestinian family hosts a young American tourist after a simple misunderstanding. But as chaos unfolds in their village, it doesn't take too long for them to become part of the absurd mayhem that immediately ensues.

Said Zagha's LOVESICK IN THE WEST BANK world premiered at the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York, where it was nominated for Best Narrative Short Film. It also held its Arab world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Short Film.

Written and directed by Said Zagha and produced by Nomadic Film House (Mais Salman), the film stars Ali Suliman, Nisreen Faour, Laith Zuaiter, and Nabil Koni.

MAD Solutions is managing the film's distribution in the Arab world.

LIGHT BLUE

A series of dreams plague a woman in her early thirties in which she reflects on her relationships with her mother, father, and lover.

Through her dreams, we see how her subconscious views these connections and the psychological traumas that they left behind.

LIGHT BLUE is directed by May Ziady and co-written by Ahmed Atik. The film stars Aya Gamal, Adam Ayoub, Mohamed Hasib, and Rawda Khamis and is produced by Sherif Mohsen (Victoria Film).

MAD Solutions is managing the film’s distribution worldwide.