EXCLUSIVE: Cairo-based company MAD Solutions has acquired all rights to U.S. filmmaker Jihan K’s personal documentary My Father and Qaddafi ahead its world premiere Out of Competition at the Venice Film Festival.
Under the acquisition, the company’s MAD Distribution arm will distribute the film in all Arab-speaking territories, while sales arm MAD World will handle sales in all other territories.
The personal documentary follows the director’s journey as she unravels the infamous disappearance in Cairo in 1993 of her father Mansur Rashid Kikhia, the peaceful opposition leader to Libya’s dictator, Muammar Qaddafi, who had previously served as the country’s foreign and ambassador to the U.S.
Born in exile and raised in Paris while her father was in opposition to Qaddafi’s regime, Jihan grew up between the U.S. and France following his disappearance,
Her documentary pieces together the 19-year investigation driven by her mother, Syrian artist Baha Al Omary, into what had happened to her husband and her fight for justice.
At the same time, it also captures Jihan, who was just six-years-old when her father disappeared, as she tries to reconnect with him and reconcile with her Libyan identity.
The U.S. and Libyan production is produced by Jihan; executive produced by Dave Guenette, Mohamed Soueid, and Sol Guy, and co-produced by Andreas Rocksén and William Johansson Kalén of Laika Film, with Jayson Jackson and Mohamed Siam serving as a consulting producers.
Commenting on the latest acquisition, MAD Solutions co-founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab said the project represents another example of MAD boarding projects that help demystify the Arab World for global audiences.
“Part of our mission involves focusing on some of the region’s — in most cases demonized — key historical figures and delving into the stories behind their public image, which was often constructed by them or Western media outlets,” they said.
The film received funding from various international sources, including Quiet, Doha Film Institute (DFI), The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, International Documentary Association, CineGouna Funding, International Media Support, Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund, Malmö Arab Film Festival, and the Swedish Film Institute. The film also participated in several labs, including Close Up Lab, DFI QUMRA, Durban Filmmart, Between Women Filmmakers Caravan Consultancy, Medimed Euro-Med Doc Market & Pitching Forum, and First Cut Lab.
“It’s a sincere honor to be accepted into Venice Film Festival. I deeply appreciate this opportunity, and I am inspired to continue collaborating with MAD Solutions to hopefully share my film with the world,” said Jihan.
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