Jeddah – November 7, 2023: The acclaimed feature film “INSHALLAH A BOY,” directed by Amjad Al-Rasheed, has been selected to participate in the third edition of the esteemed Red Sea International Film Festival. Scheduled to run from November 30th to December 9th in Jeddah, this festival is set to offer a diverse lineup of international films.
“INSHALLAH A BOY” proudly represents Jordan as the country’s official submission for the 2024 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. This film has earned recognition on the global stage, amassing eight international awards, including recent distinctions such as the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance and the Best Screenplay for a Narrative Feature Award at the sixth Mystic Film Festival.
This cinematic success includes notable accolades like the Gan Foundation Award and the Rail D’Or for Best Feature Film, both received at the renowned Cannes Film Festival. Furthermore, “INSHALLAH A BOY” holds the distinction of being the first Jordanian feature film to participate in the Critics’ Week section at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film has also garnered recognition with awards for Best Actress and Special Jury commendations at the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival, in addition to the Women’s Jury and Grand Jury Awards at the Paysages de Cinéastes Festival.
Over time, “INSHALLAH A BOY” has had the opportunity to screen at various international film festivals, including Karlovy Vary, Melbourne, BFI London, Sydney, Toronto, Hamburg, New Zealand, and World Cinema Amsterdam.
The heart of the film revolves around a compelling narrative, following the story of Nawal, a newly widowed woman facing the challenges of safeguarding her daughter and home in a society where the birth of a son carries significant weight.
Directed by Amjad Al-Rasheed and co-written with Delphine Agut and Rula Nasser, the film boasts an ensemble cast featuring Mouna Hawa, Haitham Omari, Salwa Nakkara, Yumna Marwan, Mohammad Al-Jizawi, Islam Al-Awadi, and Celina Rabab’a.
The production team behind “INSHALLAH A BOY” includes Nasser and Abu Ayyash as producers, with co-producers Youssef Abdelnabi, Raphaël Alexandre, and Nicolas Leprêtre. Associate producers for the film are Alaa Karkouti, Maher Diab, and Shahinaz El-Akkad. The film’s cinematography was handled by Kanamé Onoyama, editing by Ahmed Hafez, sound mixing by Nour Halawani, and a moving score composed by Jerry Lane. Zeina Soufan and Nasser Zoubi contributed as costume and production designers, respectively.
The film’s production is a result of collaboration between Imaginarium Films and Georges Films. MAD Solutions and Lagoonie Film Production manage its distribution within the Arab world, while international sales and distribution in France are overseen by Pyramide International.
Amjad Al-Rasheed, a Jordanian director and writer born in 1985, possesses an MFA in cinematic arts with a focus on directing and editing. In 2016, he was recognized as one of the five Arab Stars of Tomorrow by Screen International, highlighting his emerging talent in the region. His involvement in the Talent Campus during the 57th Berlinale paved the way for the creation of short films that received nominations and accolades at various Arab and international film festivals.
Al-Rasheed’s filmography includes “THE PARROT,” a short film co-directed in 2016 and funded by the Film Prize of the Robert Bosch Stiftung, as well as “HIT THE ROAD” (2011) and “BITTER DAYS” (2010).
As “INSHALLAH A BOY” prepares to make its mark at the Red Sea International Film Festival, it underscores the enduring power of storytelling through the lens of visionary filmmakers. This festival is poised to be a stage for cinematic diversity and a testament to the rich tapestry of global cinema.
