Malmö Film Festival to offer financial support for film projects

CAIRO – 2 April 2018: The eighth edition of Malmö Arab Film Festival opened it doors for applications from film projects that require financial support. The festival will receive financial support requests until May 31.

Through this financial support, the festival aims to encourage joint cinematic production between Sweden and the Arab world.

The festival director, Mohamed Qabalawy, recounted that the festival managed to achieve its target in the seventh edition that kicked off on October 6, 2017, by screening "Ala Kaf Afreet" (Unstable) in the opening ceremony. This film was directed by the Tunisian, Kawsar bin Hania and participated in the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section.

The movie was followed by a seminar with Bin Hania and the film’s lead actress, Mariam Fergany. The story of the movie is inspired by real events that highlight the problems of women in Tunisia by tracing the story of the young Tunisian student Mariam, who is sexually harassed by three policemen while in a night club.

Despite Mariam's shock and pain, she insists on punishing the harassers by complaining about the incident.

It is worth mentioning that the Egyptian movie "Clash" screened in the closing ceremony of the seventh edition of the Festival. "Clash" discussed many issues that began with the January 2011 revolution.

"Clash" won a number of awards and participated in the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section and was highly praised not only by the panel members but by all the festival guests who saw the movie. The Hollywood mega star Tom Hanks praised the movie, and sent a praising letter to its director Mohamed Diab, describing the film as “magnificent."