A Palestinian film and an Egyptian film in the “Directors’ Half Month” category at the Cannes Film Festival
The organizers of the Director’s Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival revealed the list of films selected for the next edition, which will be held between May 14 and 25, and includes a film by the Palestinian director. Mahdi Fleifel Another one by Egyptian director Hala Al-Qusi.
The category, which was launched in 1969 and is managed by the Syndicate of French Directors, is expected to feature 21 feature films and 10 short films, with the session opening with the famous film “This Life of Maine” by the late French director Sophie Villiers. .
This year is the first Palestinian participation in the “Directors’ Half Month”, through the film “To an Unknown Land” by the Palestinian director Mahdi Fleifel, which was produced in co- work with Metafora Artistic Production Company. The film tells the story of Palestinian refugees from Ain al-Hilweh camp In Lebanon, they got lost in Athens while trying to escape to northern Europe. The two friends fall into a deception, as a result of which they lose the amount of money given for immigration, only to be drawn into a series of events unexpected to recover the amount.
Fleifel has presented a large number of documentaries since he began his film career 20 years ago, and among his most important works are “A World Not Ours” and “A Drowning Man”.
Likewise, Egyptian director Hala Al-Qusi announced on her Facebook page that her famous film “East 12” has been accepted for participation in the “Directors’ Half Month”. The work belongs to the category of black comedy, within the framework of satirical fantasy, and stars Manahah Al-Batrawi, Fadel Al-Jarhi, Alia Salah El-Din, Ahmed Kamal, Fayza Shamah, and others.
Al-Qusi is a visual artist and director who previously worked in Egypt and the Netherlands on several short films that were screened at international festivals and exhibitions.
For the first time since its inception, the Cannes Film Festival and the director’s half-month section will see the presentation of the Audience Award, named after the late Belgian director Chantal Akerman, with a financial contribution of $8,000 .
