MORNING BIRD PICTURES
 
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VALLEY OF EXILE
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Completed - ARABIC - Drama - 107 minutes

Log Line

Two sisters arrive in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley at the onset of the Syrian war, embarking on a journey into exile that tests their loyalty to their country, their family and each other.

Year of production : 2023

Director(s) : Anna FAHR
Writer(s) : Anna FAHR
Producer(s) : Anna FAHR (MORNING BIRD PICTURES)

Synopsis

Set in the early years of the Syrian war, Valley of Exile chronicles the journey of Rima and Nour, two sisters who find unexpected refuge in a makeshift settlement in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley after fleeing war-torn Damascus. Older sister Rima, who is eight months pregnant, is set on reuniting with her husband and rebuilding their lives in Lebanon while younger sister Nour is determined to find their missing brother and eventually return home to Syria.​

In the camp, the sisters forge alliances with other women who are similarly forced to live without the support of family they've lost to the war. This propels them onto separate paths: Rima finds work as a housekeeper, hoping to earn money to rent an apartment before her baby is born, while Nour sets out to investigate their brother's whereabouts, risking her own safety in the process.

As days in the camp turn to weeks, Rima and Nour begin to realize that their journey together into exile is not only a struggle for survival, but ultimately a test of loyalty to their country, their family and each other.

Production

Country(ies) : CANADA, LEBANON

Financing plan : Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council

Festivals and Awards

Cinequest 2023 (Jury Award, Best Feature Drama)
Vancouver International Film Festival 2023 (Emerging Canadian Director Award)
Warsaw Film Festival 2023 (International Competition)
Mostra Sao Paulo International Film Festival 2023 (New Director Competition, Brada Award for Best Art Direction)
Tallgrass Film Festival 2023 (Women Filmmakers Competition)
Windsor International Film Festival 2023 (Official Selection)
SR Socially Relevant Film Festival 2024 (Best Actress, Grand Prize - Narrative Feature)
Canadian Film Fest 2024 (DGC Ontario Best Director Award)
Phoenix Film Festival 2024 (World Feature Competition)
Kansas City Film Festival 2024 (Best World Cinema Narrative Feature)
Beirut International Women's Film Festival 2024 (Official Selection)
Aflam Festival 2024 (Official Selection)


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