EXCLUSIVE: MAD Distribution, the theatrical arm of Cairo-based studio MAD Options, has acquired MENA rights to Tunisian director Amel Guellaty’s coming-of-age highway film The place The Wind Comes From forward of its world premiere in Sundance.
The film – described by MAD Distribution as “a refreshing comedic ode to Tunisia’s youth” – revolves round fearless Alyssa and delicate artist Mehdi, who’ve been finest buddies since childhood and really feel cramped of their life on the outskirts of the capital of Tunis.
When Alyssa discovers an artist contest in Djerba that is perhaps their ticket out, she pulls Mehdi right into a fantastical journey throughout Tunisia which can put their friendship to the check.
The movie, which was beforehand known as Tunis-Djerba, will world premiere alongside 9 different titles in Sundance’s World Dramatic Competitors, which has beforehand spotlighted movies reminiscent of Women Will Be Women, Scrapper, The Memento, Yardie and The Nile Hilton Incident.
“A lesson that’s hammered into us typically in life is that the journey is normally extra essential than the vacation spot, as a result of whereas the vacation spot might change or not be precisely like envisioned, how we get there and the experiences we decide up on the way in which are normally what stick with us when all is alleged and achieved,” mentioned MAD Options co-heads Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab.
“Amel Guellaty’s The place The Wind Comes From is a highway film that completely captures that idea, and we’re excited to be on this journey together with her,” they added.
Guellaty beforehand made waves with 2017 brief movie Black Mamba – a couple of younger girl who rebels towards the structured, middle-class future deliberate for her by her mom.
It was chosen in over 60 worldwide movie festivals and received 20 awards. It was additionally broadcast by Canal+ and Italyâ’s RT Channel.
Her debut characteristic The place The Wind Comes From is produced by Asma Chiboub Tunisia’s Atlas Imaginative and prescient, who produced Black Mamba, and Karim Aitouna (I Am The Folks) of France’s Haut Les Maines Productions, with Chadi Abo on board as a co-producer.
The forged options Eya Bellagha, Slim Baccar (Streams), Sondos Belhassen (Benzine), and Lobna Noomene (Bastardo).
Frida Marzouk, whose credit embody the John Wick franchise and Capernaum, is the cinematographer. Guellaty edited the characteristic alongside Ghalya Lacroix (Blue Is The Warmest Shade) and Malek Kammoun (Below The Fig Bushes) whereas sound combine is by Aymen Labidi.
The movie is supported by France’s Nationwide Cinema Heart (CNC), Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Visions Sud Est., Marrakech Worldwide Movie Pageant’s Atlas Workshops, Arab Fund for Arts and Tradition, Doha Movie Institute, and El Gouna Movie Pageant’s CineGouna Funding.
It has additionally been supported by Tunisia’s Centre Nationwide du Cinéma et de l’Picture, Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Fonds Picture de la Francophonie, and Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.