EXCLUSIVE: MAD Distribution, the pan-Arab releasing arm of Cairo-based pan-Arab film company MAD Solutions, has acquired all Middle East and North African rights to Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine 36.
The hot-button epic about Palestine’s 1936 revolt against British colonial rule features Jeremy Irons (A Reversal of Fortunes), Hiam Abbas (Succession) and Kamel El Basher (The Idol) in a high-profile international cast.
The film is expected to release theatrically in late 2025 following a festival launch.
The Arab all-rights distribution deal with MAD comes just a few days after France’s mk2 films and newly launched company Lucky Number announced they were joining forces to handle international sales on Jacir’s film which was previously known as All Before You.
The international co-production involves Jacir and Ossama Bawardi’s Philistine Films, Autonomous, Corniche Media, Mk Productions, and Snowglobe.
The drama follows the character of Yusuf as he drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest of 1936 Mandate Palestine, where several villages have been rising up against British rule.
Amid these calls for independence, rising numbers of Jewish immigrants are escaping an increasingly fascistic Europe and arriving in Palestine, setting up an inevitable collision that would culminate in a pivotal moment for the British Empire and for the future of the entire Middle East region.
Palestine 36 is a passion project for Jacir, who has longed dreamed of making a film about the events of the 1936 revolt in “an intimate, personal, and raw” way.
“History is rarely written by the oppressed,” said Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, co-founders of MAD Solutions.
“When we saw the vision behind Palestine 36, the sheer production behind it, and Annemarie Jacir and Ossama Bawardi’s names attached to it, we just knew we couldn’t pass up on working on it,” they continued.
“Palestine 36 looks back on a time when colonization was simpler, but vile nonetheless; when all parties agreed on what the term ‘occupation’ meant and when both occupier and occupied — despite the animosity — acknowledged the identity of the oppressed rather than attempting to erase it,” they said.
“It addresses the critical junctures that led to the establishment of the Israeli State, the status quo the world has been contending with since, and this new dark chapter we stepped into since 7th October. To those interested in seeing the other side of history, Palestine 36 should be on your watchlist when it becomes available to all.”
Written and directed by Jacir, Palestine 36 is produced by Bawardi and co-produced by Cat Villiers, Hani Farsi, Nils Åstrand, Olivier Barbier, Katrin Pors, Azzam Fakhrildin, and Hamza Ali; lensed by Hélène Louvart (Invisible Life), edited by Tania Reddin (Dirty Filthy Love), with production design by Nael Kanj, costume design by Hamada Atallah and score by Ben Frost (Dark).
Further cast members include Yasmine Al-Massri (Thank You For Banking With Us), Jalal Altawil (Cairo Conspiracy), Robert Aramayo (Nocturnal Animals), Saleh Bakri (The Blue Caftan), Yafa Bakri, Karim Daoud Anaya, Billy Howle (Dunkirk), Dhafer L’Abidine (To My Son) and Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones).
The film is backed by BFI, BBC, Doha Film Institute, Katara Studios, Watermelon Pictures, Cocoon Films, Metafora Productions, Roya Media Group (Fares Sayegh and Michael Sayegh) TV, Jordan Film Fund, AFAC, Danish Film Institute, Film I Väst, CNC – Aide au Cinema du Monde, Région Ile-de-France, Metafora Productions, Munib & Angela Masri Foundation.
