Latest news with #MahdiFleifel
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Review: ‘To a Land Unknown' an absorbing refugee crisis drama
Review: 'To a Land Unknown' an absorbing refugee crisis drama Sitting on an Athens park bench with their skateboards, with pigeons scouring the ground for food at their feet, the cousins at the heart of 'To a Land Unknown' scan their surroundings for their next target. They need money, badly. They need a purse to steal. Palestinian refugees, Chatila and his younger cousin Reda have been stranded here a while. Chatila's wife and 2-year-old son, stuck in their own limbo in a Lebanese refugee camp, live with uncertain hopes of meeting up with the cousins in Germany. This is the universal lament and staggering human cost of refugee displacement, dramatized in Danish-Palestinian filmmaker Mahdi Fleifel's tense, coolly heartbreaking debut narrative feature. 'To a Land Unknown' focuses on these loving, sometimes hating cousins, who dream of opening a cafe in their chosen land unknown. Realizing this dream will require a series of anxious gambles and bargains with their lives, and the lives of others. It's an existence balanced between 'what is and what must be,' as another refugee says, quoting 'Praise for the High Shadow' by Mahmoud Darwish. That's the poetry; Fleifel's film favors well-paced if slightly schematic prose, though the actors are more than good enough to keep you with these people every fraught minute. It's a movie of many deadlines. The first is the two weeks that the cagey, quietly ruthless Chatila has to secure fake passports for himself and the softer-hearted addict Reda. Early in the story, the cousins encounter 13-year-old Malik (Mohammad Alsurafa), a Gazan refugee whose human trafficker, he tells the men, dumped him in Greece instead of reuniting him with his mother, now living in Italy. Everyone in 'To a Land Unknown' seeks some distant shore they can call home, with the promise of reminding them, in some way, of three simple words heard at the very end of the story: 'the old neighborhood.' Chatila's the emergent protagonist in the script by Fyzal Boulifa, Jason McColgan and director Fleifel, and in the compelling, un-showy performance by Mahmoud Bakri, the story's escalating tensions never feel actor-engineered. Cousin Reda, whom Chatila patronizes one minute and loves like a brother the next, may well be the biggest obstacle to a further shore. Aram Sabbah makes this sweet, lost soul a dimensional presence. Much of 'To a Land Unknown' deals with the cousins' entry into human trafficking, by way of the hard-drinking Greek national Tatiana (Angeliki Papoulia, 'Dogtooth') who becomes Chatila's lover. She's lured, with a promise of pay, into posing as the orphan's mother, accompanying him to Italy. It's a long shot. But it might get the cousins where they're headed, in Germany (a proper European nation, argues Chatila). There are only so many ways 'To a Land Unknown' can conclude its storytelling business and not sell itself short, along with the omnipresent refugee crisis stories we live every minute on this planet. Yet the co-writer and director, who earliest years in a Lebanese refugee camp are the subject of his 2012 documentary 'A World Not Ours,' knows where he's going. The focus tightens ever more effectively on two ordinary men, searching, yearning, stealing, surviving however — and if — they can. ——— 'TO A LAND UNKNOWN' (In Arabic, Greek and English with English subtitles) 3 stars (out of 4) No MPA rating (language, sexuality, some violence) Running time: 1:45 How to watch: Now in theaters ——— Solve the daily Crossword
Broadcast Pro
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Zawya Cinema to release Palestinian film ‘To A Land Unknown' on July 16
Writer-director Mahdi Fleifel's second feature follows two immigrants in Athens as they struggle by any means necessary to escape their circumstances. Zawya Cinema has announced the upcoming release of To A Land Unknown, a Palestinian film by director Mahdi Fleifel, on July 16 as part of the eighth edition of Cairo Cinema Days. The screening marks the film's arrival in Egypt after a wide theatrical rollout across the Arab world, including in Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, the UAE, Palestine and Jordan. The 2024 drama made its world premiere at the 77th Cannes International Film Festival, where it was featured in the Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalisateurs) section. Since then, the film has travelled an extensive international festival circuit, screening at over 100 events and collecting more than 20 awards, with over 40 theatrical releases globally. To A Land Unknown is directed and co-written by Mahdi Fleifel, alongside writers Fyzal Boulifa and Jason McColgan. The film stars Mahmood Bakri and Aram Sabbah as Chatila and Reda, two Palestinian refugees stranded in Athens after fleeing a refugee camp in Lebanon. Desperate to reach Germany, they struggle to survive on the fringes of society, scraping together money to purchase fake passports. But their fragile plan begins to unravel when Reda, burdened by guilt and disillusionment, squanders their savings on heroin. Left with nothing, Chatila becomes entangled in a dangerous smuggling scheme as they try to escape their dead-end existence. Blending documentary realism with dramatic storytelling, Fleifel's film delivers an emotionally charged portrait of refugee life in Europe, marked by vulnerability, resistance and the desperate pursuit of hope. The arrival of Malek, a young boy whose aunt promises to send money to bring him to Italy, provides a brief glimmer of optimism for the two men, but their future remains uncertain. The film is a European co-production involving several companies and institutions, including Inside Out Films (UK), Nakba Filmworks, Salaud Morisset (France and Germany), Homemade Films (Greece) and Studio Ruba (Netherlands). Additional support came from ERT, Metafora Production and the Red Sea Production Fund in Saudi Arabia. Distribution across the Arab region is handled by Film Clinic Indie Distribution. With To A Land Unknown, Mahdi Fleifel delivers a raw, humane, and timely story about exile, brotherhood and survival, firmly establishing the film as a standout in contemporary Arab and European cinema.
Arab News
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
May Calamawy promotes Palestinian film's North American run
DUBAI: Egyptian Palestinian actress May Calamawy took to social media on Saturday to promote Palestinian film 'To A Land Unknown.' For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Distributed by Watermelon Pictures, the film is directed by Mahdi Fleifel and stars Angeliki Papoulia, Mahmoud Bakri, Manal Awad and Aram Sabbah. May Calamawy took to Instagram Stories to share news that 'To A Land Unknown' is on a 40-screen cinema run in North America this month, including showings in New York, Houston and Vancouver. 'Reda and Chatila are two Palestinian cousins hustling their way through the underbelly of Athens pursuing their dream of making it to Germany. But as their hardship grows, so too does their desperation. When Chatila hatches a reckless all-or-nothing plan, it strains their bond and pushes the limits of what they will do for freedom,' the film's logline reads. The film was awarded the Silver Yusr Award December's Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. Watermelon Pictures was co-founded by Alana Hadid, the sister of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid. Hadid — along with brothers Badie Ali and Hamza Ali — co-founded Watermelon Pictures, a production company with a mission to create compelling, impactful stories that resonate with global audiences. 'I was honored to be asked to be the creative director of Watermelon Pictures. I think it's not only a passion project for Hamza and Badie, but it is an opportunity for Palestinians to have a place to go to tell their stories … I get emotional about it. I think it's just one of the most beautiful things that people have a place where they can put their stories. And we know that we have a safe place for that,' Hadid previously told Arab News. For her part, Calamawy is known for her roles in US Netflix series 'Ramy' and 'Moon Knight' (2022), where she plays dual characters Layla El-Faouly and the Scarlet Scarab. She made headlines in late 2024 when almost all her scenes were cut from Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator II,' with fans taking to social media to complain. Her casting in the film was first announced in May 2023. At the time, Deadline reported that Scott had cast Calamawy after a lengthy search, writing: 'While many of the leading roles were straight offers, Scott wanted to do a similar search he did for the (Paul) Mescal part for the role that Calamawy ultimately landed.' However, fans noticed that in the final cut, which hit cinemas in November, Calamawy is only seen in passing and she has no dialogue.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
There's a seriously cool film festival happening in Abu Dhabi this week
Clear your calendars and prepare to lean into the art of storytelling, because CineMAS 2025 is back and it's bringing serious indie film energy to Manarat Al Saadiyat. Running from May 26 to June 1, this weeklong festival of independent cinema isn't just about watching movies – it's about sparking conversations, honouring heritage, unpacking identities and maybe even rethinking your place in the world. Split into seven themed days, CineMAS 2025 sets the stage for daring films curated by some of the region's sharpest cinematic minds. It all kicks off with Moral Frictions on Monday – a programme shaped by Triplets on Set – which dissects institutional decay through the eyes of beleaguered educators in The Teacher's Lounge and About Dry Grasses. It's the kind of viewing that leaves your mind racing long after the credits roll. Tuesday's Hidden Truths, curated by Arab Film Studio, lifts the veil on the intimate corners of Emirati life, with a selection of shorts that tackle everything from loss to shame with a raw emotional punch. These aren't just stories – they're lived experiences turned into visual poetry. Midweek, things get environmental. Earth, Unmuted, from The Climate Tribe, serves up a climate reality check with the haunting Invisible Demons and the award-winning Honeyland, reminding us that climate collapse isn't future fiction – it's already here and it's human-made. By Thursday, it's all about roots. Ancestral Echoes brings heritage to the forefront with Rituals: Memories of a Wedding and The Way of Our Ancestors, a gentle, evocative call to remember who we are and where we came from – and maybe light a candle for what we've forgotten. Friday tightens the emotional screws with Pressure Point, curated by Like Minds. Saudi noir Mandoob sits alongside the chaotic charm of Be Kind, Rewind, creating a space where memory, labour and grief collide in unexpected ways. Saturday leans into duplicity with Double Lives, a gritty double bill tracing fractured identities and collapsing systems from Algiers to Hong Kong. Think crime, corruption and loyalties hanging by a thread. The festival closes on a high – or rather, a haunting – with Futures on Hold from NYUAD, featuring three Arab films that confront statelessness and disillusionment head-on. Mahdi Fleifel's To A Land Unknown, Laila Abbas's razor-sharp Thank You for Banking with Us and Scandar Copti's Happy Holidays are each an aching reminder of what happens when identity becomes unstable ground. Beyond the screen, CineMAS 2025 also delivers side events like DINE W/ME, Creative Circle and Like Minds Gatherings, turning Manarat Al Saadiyat into a creative ecosystem pulsing with bold ideas, new voices and much-needed dialogue. So if you're tired of sequels and superhero fatigue, CineMAS 2025 is your passport to something real – challenging, local, urgent and unforgettable. From Dhs30. Mon May 26 to Sun June 1. Manarat Al Saadiyat. More going on in Abu Dhabi UAE residents can now save big time on flights thanks to a new Skyscanner feature No complaints here You can now get a robotaxi from Zayed International Airport Trips to the airport just got an upgrade Abu Dhabi's best restaurants: Everywhere you should eat at least once Your dinner inspo is sorted 20 incredibly fun ways to explore Abu Dhabi after dark The city is at its most fascinating once the sun goes down
Broadcast Pro
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Hong Kong Int'l Film Festival to screen Red Sea Foundation-supported films
Red Sea Film Foundation-backed films 'Yunan', 'To a Land Unknown', 'To Kill a Mongolian Horse' and 'Yalla Parkour' are set to be showcased. The 49th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) has announced its 2025 lineup, featuring several films backed by the Red Sea Film Foundation, including Ameer Fakher Eldin's Yunan, Mahdi Fleifel's To a Land Unknown, Xiaoxuan Jiang's To Kill a Mongolian Horse and Areeb Zuaiter's documentary Yalla Parkour. Scheduled to take place from April 10 to 21, the festival will highlight nearly 200 films from 69 countries, including six world premieres, two international premieres and 52 Asian premieres, with over 300 screenings planned. Among the notable selections, Yunan—the second installment in Fakher Eldin's HOME trilogy—follows a disillusioned Arab writer who, contemplating suicide, retreats to a remote North Sea island, where an encounter with an elderly woman rekindles his desire to live. Fleifel's To a Land Unknown portrays the struggles of two immigrants seeking a way out of Athens, while Meryam Joobeur's Who Do I Belong To delves into themes of identity and conflict as a Tunisian mother grapples with the unexpected return of her son from Syria. Making her feature-length debut, Zuaiter directs Yalla Parkour, a documentary that intertwines her search for belonging with the story of Ahmed, a parkour athlete in Gaza. The film, an international co-production involving Sweden, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Palestine, premiered at the Berlinale's Panorama section earlier this year. Jiang's To Kill a Mongolian Horse, a drama set in Inner Mongolia, is also among the featured selections. Produced by Da Huang Pictures, the film represents a collaboration between Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and the United States. HKIFF 2025 will open with the world premieres of The Brightest Sun by Japan's Tetsuya Nakashima and Pavane for an Infant by Malaysia's Chong Keat Aun. The festival will conclude with Norway's Dreams (Sex Love) by Dag Johan Haugerud, which recently won the Golden Bear at the Berlinale.
