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SAND STORM (SUFAT CHOL) (Past Film)
SALES All rights, World
 
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Completed - ARABIC - Drama - 87 minutes

Log Line

When their entire lives are shattered, two Bedouin women struggle to change the unchangeable rules, each in her own individual way.

Previous markets

  • Sundance 2016 (Debut)
  • Berlin EFM 2016 (Premiere)
  • Cannes 2016 (Line up)
  • Toronto 2016 (Line up)
Full history

Year of production : 2016

Director(s) : Elite ZEXER
Writer(s) : Elite ZEXER
Cast : Lamis AMMAR, Ruba BLAL-ASFOUR, Haitham OMARI, Khadija ALAKEL, Jalal MASARWA

Producer(s) : Haim MECKLBERG (2-Team Productions)

Synopsis

As wedding festivities get underway in a Bedouin village in Israel, Jalila finds herself in the awkward position of hosting her husband Suliman’s marriage to a second, much younger wife. During the celebration, Jalila stumbles across eldest daughter Layla’s involvement with a boy from her university—a strictly forbidden liaison that would shame the family. Burying the indignity of Suliman and his new bride living next door, Jalila also tries to contain Layla’s situation by clamping down on her. But younger and possessed of a boundless spirit, Layla sees a different life for herself.

A story of tradition, modernity, and divided family, Sand Storm upends expectations. At its core, Elite Zexer’s mesmerizing debut feature portrays the emotionally layered relationship between mother and daughter, both bound by custom while struggling to adapt to a changing world. Zexer’s artful storytelling derives its authenticity—its complexity of character, rich detail, and subtle humor—from the 10 years she’s spent interacting with Bedouin women. Her fidelity to their experience allows her to beautifully convey the spirit of profound ambivalence Jalila and Layla share.

Production

Country(ies) : ISRAEL

AUSTRALIA Dec 01, 2016 MOVING STORY EN
USA Sep 28, 2016 FILM FORUM
USA Sep 28, 2016 KINO LORBER MED

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Festivals and Awards

Sundance Film Festival 2016 - World Dramatic (World Cinema Grand Jury Prize)
Toronto - TIFF 2016 Discovery
Stockholm IFF 2016 - Competition (Best First Film)
Berlinale - EFM 2016 (Panorama)


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