Four MAD shorts to screen as part of Palestinian Short Films Program at Cairo’s Netherlands-Flemish Institute

As part of the Palestinian Short Films Program set to take place at the Netherlands-Flemish Institute (NVIC) in Cairo on Sunday, October 29th, MAD Solutions will be sending four Palestinian films from its stellar repertoire of short films to screen at the event, which starts at 7 pm at the NVIC’s Zamalek headquarters.

The MAD lineup includes Ward Kayyal’s HAMZA: CHASING THE GHOST CHASING ME, Said Zagha’s LOVESICK IN THE WEST BANK, Ibrahim Handal’s BETHLEHEM 2001, and Wissam Al-Jafari’s AMBIENCE.

Bear in mind that this is a free-admission event and that seating will be first-come, first-serve. So, be sure to show up earlier if you have a specific seating plan in mind. For more information on the event, please visit: https://fb.me/e/robUkotDF

First up in the MAD lineup is Ward Kayyal’s HAMZA: CHASING THE GHOST CHASING ME, which tells the story of Hamza — a middle-aged man who refuses to abandon a routine he has kept since his release from Israeli jail; every day, he goes into the woods to hunt a lion that the locals don't believe exists.

The film — which premiered at the CIFF — is headlined by award-winning actor Kamel El-Basha, alongside Ruba Blal, Motaz Malhes, and Khulood Basel, and written by Majd Kayyal, edited by Saed Andoni, and lensed by Ashraf Dowani.

Next up is LOVESICK IN THE WEST BANK — written and directed by Said Zagha — which tells the story of a Palestinian family who 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.

The short film stars Ali Suliman, Nisreen Faour, Laith Zuaiter, and Nabil Koni, and was edited by Abdallah Sada, and lensed by Ahmad Jalboush.

Third in the lineup is BETHLEHEM 2001, which was written, directed, lensed, and co-edited by Ibrahim Handal alongside Belal Abu Alia, and stars Muhammad Mughrabi, Yousef AbuShkhaidem, Hind AbuShkhaidem, and Tarek Abusalameh.

The film — which world premiered at the Locarno Film Festival — follows a young Palestinian who wanders between his current reflections and his childhood memories of the military invasion and siege of Bethlehem. He tries to understand how his parents could guide him through those difficult times, hoping that they would help him cope with the present.

Last but not least, Wissam Al-Jafari’s AMBIENCE — which won the Third Place Cinéfondation Award at the Cannes Film Festival — follows two young Palestinians trying to record a demo for a music competition inside a noisy, crowded refugee camp.

While failing to record because of the chaos of their surroundings, they discover a creative way to allow them to meet the deadline.

The short film, which stars Salah Abu Nima and Mohammad Al-Khmour, was written and directed by Wisam Al-Jafari, lensed by Ibrahim Handal, and edited by Belal Abu Alia.