Exclusive: Iraqi producer and director Zara Ghandour’s feature debut Fran, It had its European premiere at IDFA this week and was given global sales by Marcela Yelic’s Croatian outfit, Split Screen.
Jelic has already reported strong buyer interest in the film ahead of its IDFA release on November 17th.
The documentary follows the director’s search for his missing childhood friend Nour, one of many girls and young women left behind by their families in Iraq, who disappeared under strange and sinister circumstances when she was 10 years old.
“Fulana” is a word in Iraqi dialect that refers to a forgotten or anonymous woman.
flannel ‘ became the first feature film by an Iraqi female director to be selected for a major film festival. The film was submitted to IDFA’s international competition and was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this fall.
The film gained public support in Iraq through a new funding scheme created by the Ministry of Culture and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Produced by Baghdad-based Ghandour’s Karada Films Fran, Partnered with France’s Lila Productions. This project received support from CNC, Doha Film Institute, Wickers, AFAC Arab Arts and Culture Fund, and IDFA Bertha Fund.
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The acquisition comes amid signs of growth in Iraq’s production sector, led by Hassan Hadi’s directorial debut. presidential cake‘ won the Camera d’Or at Cannes in May. Seller: Film Boutique presidential cake It is scheduled to be released in the United States early next year by Sony Pictures Classics.
Karada, named after a district in Baghdad, currently has new projects in development, both fiction and documentary.
“We are a team of five people: two producers, a production manager and a few directors,” Ghandour said.
Ghandour is also present to support IDFA. sixth storya featured document by Ahmed Abdo proposed at IDFA Academy. In the film, Ahmed and his friend Ali confront traumatic memories of Iraq’s sectarian violence
Ghandur himself is currently venturing into the world of drama with a short film called “”. a safe place for love, A dark comedy about a young couple going on a date in Baghdad that goes horribly wrong.
(Tag translation) Documentary
