We’ve teamed up with Fajr Falestine Collective to bring you some of their exclusive, wonderful, quirky, different films from the Middle East!
The first of this collection is Jessica Habie’s brilliant Mars at Sunrise which stars one of our favourite actors, Ali Suliman. The full description of the film is below but we think you’ll love this story based on Palestinian artist Hani Zurob (who you should research as well!).
We hope you enjoy the film and let us know what you think, we can add your reviews to our Blog!
Read on for more information about the film and Fajr Falestine:
A painter’s resistance, courage and spirit can never be imprisoned in this highly stylized story of the conflict of two frustrated artists on either side of Israel’s militarized borders. Inspired by the creative journey of renowned Palestinian artist in exile Hani Zurob and on true stories and testimonies from the region, we witness expression, confinement, torture, jealousy, courage and freedom as both artists from each culture strive to paint a picture of life surrounded by conflict.
Mars at Sunrise stars Ali Suliman as Khaled (Paradise Now, Golden Globe Winner for Best Foreign Film); Guy El Hanan as Eyal (accomplished playwright and an Israeli radio personality); and Haale Gafori as Azzadeh (a singer based in Brooklyn and author of the film’s original poetry). The soundtrack features six languages (English, Hebrew, Russian, Yiddish, Farsi and Arabic) and was produced by Tamir Muskat of the Balkan Beat Box, with original music by Itamar Ziegler and Mohsen Subhi.
The film was directed by Jessica Habie, and it was her first feature; Jessica’s documentary works Mandatory Service, Beyond Blue and Gray and Art and Apathy received awards at several film festivals including Tribeca Film Festival, The Cannes Short Film Corner and Berlinale Talent Campus. Mars at Sunrise was produced by Nirah Shirazipour and Baher Agbariya (Thirst Attash, Last Days in Jerusalem, Man Without a Cell Phone, Omar) and edited by Luis Carballar (Amores Perros, Manorca, Sin Nombre, The Devil’s Double, Immigrant) and ErezOs. Sound Design was done by Martin Hernandez (Amores Perros, Babel, Into the Wild, The Loneliest Planet, On the Road).
Eyes Infinite Films and Fajr Falestine Films presented Mars at Sunrise with limited theatrical distribution in February 2014 before worldwide digital distribution via Distrify. Future Fajr Falestine projects will be supported by the funds raised through digital downloads and streaming ofMars at Sunrise. The 2014 projects will focus on current issues in Palestinian political, social or cultural life from a new or avant-garde perspective. The goal is to create a system in which the successful self-distribution of one Fajr Falestine family project will go on to fund other films in perpetuity.