
The return of our Visions shorts program, showcasing outstanding, world-class short films by some of the most talented filmmakers of the day. Filled with diverse stories about youth, discover the stunning Miyazaki-esque animation of Dana Durr as she takes us through a story of loss under occupation, the unique and unlikely reunion of two lovers as told in the Cannes Palme d'Or winning work of Sameh Alaa and the beautiful filmmaking and empowering story that won Suzannah Mirghani over 18 awards in the past year. Peer into the new frontiers of storytelling from throughout the Arab World.
This programs includes the following films:
Mariam (Palestine) dir. Dana Durr
I'm Afraid to Forget Your Face (Egypt) dir. Sameh Alaa
The Departure (Morocco) dir. Saïd Hamich
The Girls Who Burned the Night (Saudi Arabia) dir. Sara Mesfer
Trumpets in the Sky (Lebanon, Palestine) dir. Rakan Mayasi
Al-Sit (Sudan) dir. Suzannah Mirghani
Lebanon today - the war in Syria is next door. A once dreamy and undisturbed
meadow changes drastically in the eyes of Boushra, 14years - who returns from work picking potatoes to learn that her childhood will soon come to an end. With an absent father, her mother
sells her into marriage. As she tries to connect with her decaying hometown, Boushra fears the impending possibilities of departure and becoming a woman. Without dialogues, ‘Trumpets in the Sky’ is a poetic visual contemplation on landscapes and the complexity of human traditions. Part fiction, part documentary, and purposely blurring the distinction, the bleakness of the narrative explores a dark socio-political critique of patriarchy, the repercussions of war, and the myth of sacrifice.
About the filmmaker:
Rakan Mayasi is an independent filmmaker (Director, Screenwriter & Producer) from Palestine, born in Germany and currently based in Lebanon. He studied Cinema, Theatre and Psychology in Lebanon and then received film training with Abbas Kiarostami in South Korea at the Asian Film Academy. He has written, directed and produced several short films. His previous film ROUBAMA was an official selection at the Locarno Film Festival in 2012. His short film BONBONÉ tackles the phenomenon of Palestinian sperm smuggling from Israeli jails and has world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017 - it is the recipient of 28 Best Short Awards at international film festivals, namely Küstendorf Film and Music Festival and the 40th Moscow International Film Festival TRUMPETS IN THE SKY is his new short exploring Cinema as a contemplative medium of visual poetry, metaphor, and mythology, while pushing back the narrative. Rakan is currently in pre-production for his new political horror short film.
- Year2021
- Runtime15 minutes
- CountryPalestine, State of, Lebanon, France, Belgium
- DirectorRakan Mayasi
- ScreenwriterRakan Mayasi, Wahid Ajmi
- ProducerRakan Mayasi, François Morisset, Laura Jumel
- Executive ProducerJoseph Khallouf
- Co-ProducerDb Studios Cobalt Films
- CastBoushra Matar, Azra Al Nazzal, Hussein Ali, Yasser Shlash
- CinematographerPôl Seif
- EditorRakan Mayasi, Marie-Rose Osta
- Production DesignBshara Atallah
- Sound DesignLama Sawaya
- MusicHadi Zeidan Tamikrest
The return of our Visions shorts program, showcasing outstanding, world-class short films by some of the most talented filmmakers of the day. Filled with diverse stories about youth, discover the stunning Miyazaki-esque animation of Dana Durr as she takes us through a story of loss under occupation, the unique and unlikely reunion of two lovers as told in the Cannes Palme d'Or winning work of Sameh Alaa and the beautiful filmmaking and empowering story that won Suzannah Mirghani over 18 awards in the past year. Peer into the new frontiers of storytelling from throughout the Arab World.
This programs includes the following films:
Mariam (Palestine) dir. Dana Durr
I'm Afraid to Forget Your Face (Egypt) dir. Sameh Alaa
The Departure (Morocco) dir. Saïd Hamich
The Girls Who Burned the Night (Saudi Arabia) dir. Sara Mesfer
Trumpets in the Sky (Lebanon, Palestine) dir. Rakan Mayasi
Al-Sit (Sudan) dir. Suzannah Mirghani
Lebanon today - the war in Syria is next door. A once dreamy and undisturbed
meadow changes drastically in the eyes of Boushra, 14years - who returns from work picking potatoes to learn that her childhood will soon come to an end. With an absent father, her mother
sells her into marriage. As she tries to connect with her decaying hometown, Boushra fears the impending possibilities of departure and becoming a woman. Without dialogues, ‘Trumpets in the Sky’ is a poetic visual contemplation on landscapes and the complexity of human traditions. Part fiction, part documentary, and purposely blurring the distinction, the bleakness of the narrative explores a dark socio-political critique of patriarchy, the repercussions of war, and the myth of sacrifice.
About the filmmaker:
Rakan Mayasi is an independent filmmaker (Director, Screenwriter & Producer) from Palestine, born in Germany and currently based in Lebanon. He studied Cinema, Theatre and Psychology in Lebanon and then received film training with Abbas Kiarostami in South Korea at the Asian Film Academy. He has written, directed and produced several short films. His previous film ROUBAMA was an official selection at the Locarno Film Festival in 2012. His short film BONBONÉ tackles the phenomenon of Palestinian sperm smuggling from Israeli jails and has world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017 - it is the recipient of 28 Best Short Awards at international film festivals, namely Küstendorf Film and Music Festival and the 40th Moscow International Film Festival TRUMPETS IN THE SKY is his new short exploring Cinema as a contemplative medium of visual poetry, metaphor, and mythology, while pushing back the narrative. Rakan is currently in pre-production for his new political horror short film.
- Year2021
- Runtime15 minutes
- CountryPalestine, State of, Lebanon, France, Belgium
- DirectorRakan Mayasi
- ScreenwriterRakan Mayasi, Wahid Ajmi
- ProducerRakan Mayasi, François Morisset, Laura Jumel
- Executive ProducerJoseph Khallouf
- Co-ProducerDb Studios Cobalt Films
- CastBoushra Matar, Azra Al Nazzal, Hussein Ali, Yasser Shlash
- CinematographerPôl Seif
- EditorRakan Mayasi, Marie-Rose Osta
- Production DesignBshara Atallah
- Sound DesignLama Sawaya
- MusicHadi Zeidan Tamikrest