4 months ago
Paris-based supplier ARP Sélection has snapped up nan timely Sudanese play “Goodbye Julia” for French distribution up of its Cannes Un Certain Regard premiere adjacent week.
The film, which is Sudanese head Mohamed Kordofani’s characteristic debut, marks nan first characteristic from Sudan to front from nan Croisette and takes spot conscionable earlier nan 2011 secession of South Sudan. In “Goodbye Julia,” 2 women — 1 from nan North, nan different from nan South — are brought together by destiny successful a analyzable narration that attempts to reconcile differences betwixt bluish and confederate Sudanese communities.
in an question and reply pinch Variety, Kordofani expressed nan dream that his movie “Can beryllium nan commencement of a activity for reconciliation betwixt each nan Sudanese people” successful nan war-ravaged country.
The 2 cardinal roles are played respectively by Eiman Yousif and Sudanese supermodel Siran Riak (pictured above), making her big-screen acting debut. The formed besides includes Nazar Goma and Ger Duany, who is known for his capacity in “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
“Goodbye Julia” is produced by Amjad Abu Alala, head of “You Will Die astatine Twenty,” which won Venice Film Festival’s Lion of nan Future grant for champion first characteristic successful 2019.
ARP Sélection acquired “Goodbye Julia” from pan-Arab supplier MAD Solutions, which moved into world sales with this title.
“We were highly moved by nan beauty, intensity, communicative powerfulness and nan emotion rising from this debut film, which positions Sudan connected nan representation of world cinema,” commented Michèle and Laurent Halberstadt of ARP successful a statement. “We are besides proud to commencement a caller collaboration pinch MAD Solutions, 1 of nan starring distribution and income supplier companies successful nan Middle East,” they added.
Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, co-founders and co-CEOs of MAD Solutions, described nan action of “Goodbye Julia” astatine Un Certain Regard arsenic a “turning constituent for nan Sudanese movie industry” and expressed their delight astatine ARP’s acquisition of nan film. “We are assured nan movie is successful safe, nurturing hands pinch ARP, who person established themselves arsenic a leader successful nan distribution of boundary-pushing, eye-opening cinema passim France,” they said.
ARP is simply a salient French arthouse supplier whose caller titles see Jerzy Skolimowski Oscar-nominated “EO,” Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” and Jafar Panahi’s “No Bears,” victor of nan Special Jury Prize astatine Venice past year.
