CASTING
Other movies
HIJRA
Director: Shahad Ameen
A grandmother and her two granddaughters journey from Taif to Mecca. When the eldest granddaughter vanishes, the two remaining women travel north to find her, with their search highlighting the deep cultural and generational bonds between Saudi women. Set against the backdrop of the Hajj pilgrimage, Hijra portrays the intimate and emotional odyssey of these women, which evolves into a spiritual quest. Their journey carries the weight of an entire heritage and offers an emotional, powerful and insightful look at identity. Shot across eight Saudi cities, the film provides a deep dive into the nation’s rich cultural tapestry. Actress Khairia Nazmi infuses the story with profound emotion due to her strength and energy.
THE STORIES
Director: Abu Bakr Shawky
In the summer of 1967 in Egypt, aspiring pianist Ahmed begins a long-distance friendship with Liz, his Austrian pen-pal. Their bond, met with suspicion by relatives, helps drive Ahmed’s pursuit of his dream: to perform in a public concert. As they navigate life’s joys and heartaches, their connection and shared ambition endure through the war, family drama and societal opposition they face in Egypt during the 1980s. The film, like Yomeddine, is infused with the director's distinct personality, showing his talent for creating characters and dialogue that are touching and memorable. This is a vivid and authentic tribute to Egypt, capturing a love story filled with the innocence and ambition of a generation during a key period in Arab history.
IN-I: IN MOTION
Director: Juliette Binoche
Juliette Binoche’s directing debut is an honest and unflinching account of her artistic collaboration with the British dancer and choreographer Akram Khan, resulting in the 2008 hybrid stage production In-I which premiered at the National Theatre in London. Khan and Binoche honed the show in a workshop, assisted by American acting coach Susan Batson and movement director Hsu Man-su, and filmed by the director’s sister Marion Stalens. Shown alongside footage of the finished show, which features sets by Anish Kapoor and music by Philip Sheppard, this new edit of In-I In Motion marks a rare chance to watch the creative process between two open-minded, questioning, and often exhausted performers as they birth a work of art. "This film contains scenes that may be considered sensitive for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised"