Four Arab films to be screened at prestigious Toronto festival

Four Arab films supported by SANAD, the Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s (ADFF) development and post-production fund, will be screened at the 39th Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from September 4-14.

This is the fifth consecutive year SANAD films have been screened at TIFF, this year’s selections include two narrative films.

Theeb, directed by Naji Abu Nowar and The Valley directed by Ghassan Salhab are two included in the TIFF Docs category of the progamme which also features Iraqi Odyssey, directed by Samir and The Wanted 18, directed by Amer Shomali and Paul Cowan.

Ali Al Jabri, director of Abu Dhabi Film Festival said: “This achievement is a testament to ADFF and SANAD’s success in supporting and developing international quality Arab films. It also demonstrates ADFF’s continued support for filmmakers in the region.

“SANAD serves as a vehicle for identifying and supporting worthwhile projects and we are confident that such films will go on to create a meaningful body of work that ensures greater Arab artistic representation in contemporary world cinema. Theeb has also been selected for Orizzonti competition of Venice Film Festival later this month; it is the only Arab feature film to be screened in the official selection of this year’s programme in Venice.”

Original article by Andy Sambidge

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Four Arab films to be screened at prestigious Toronto festival