LOOKING FOR OUM KULTHUM

Mitra, an ambitious Iranian artist, mother and wife in her forties, embarks on her dream project: making a film about the legendary Egyptian singer Oum Kulthum. As she explores the struggles, sacrifices and price of the singer’s success as a woman in a male-dominated society, Mitra’s own life begins to mirror that of her heroine. Having left her family behind for her career, she struggles to capture Oum Kulthum as a myth, a woman and an artist. When her young son suddenly disappears during the production, the boundaries between her own story and the singer’s life become increasingly blurred, pushing Mitra toward an emotional and artistic breakdown.

Directed by Shirin Neshat & Shoja Azari
Screenplay Shirin Neshat Shoja Azari Ahmad Diba
Cast Neda Rahmanian Yasmin Raeis Mehdi Moinzadeh Kais Nashif Najia Skalli Nour Kamar
Music Amine Bouhafa
Cinematography Martin Gschlacht
Editing Nadia Ben Rachid
Production Companies Razor Film Produktion Coop99 In Between Art Film Vivo Film Schortcut Films
Venice Film Festival — Giornate degli Autori / Venice Days
2017 | Official Selection — World Premiere
Toronto International Film Festival
2017 | Contemporary World Cinema
Haifa International Film Festival
2017 | Cinemart with David D’Arcy
International Film Festival of Kerala
2017 | Official Selection
BFI London Film Festival
2017 | Special Presentations
Mostra Internazionale del Cinema di São Paulo
2017 | International Perspective
Reykjavík International Film Festival
2017 | Open Seas
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
2017 | Panorama
Filmfest Hamburg
2017 | Freihafen
Nomination — Hamburger Producers Award for European Cinema Co-Productions
CPH:DOX — Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival
2018 | Nordic:Dox Award
Göteborg Film Festival
2018 | Masters
Istanbul Film Festival
2018 | Musicians
Seattle International Film Festival
2018 | Face the Music
Diagonale — Austrian Film Festival
2018 | Official Selection — Austrian Premiere
Dublin Arabic Film Festival
2018 | Official Selection
Arab Women’s Film Festival
2018 | Long Film Competition

9 DAYS IN RAQQA

ALL-IN