EXCLUSIVE: MAD Distribution, the theatrical arm of Cairo-based studio MAD Solutions, has acquired MENA rights to Tunisian director Amel Guellaty’s coming-of-age road movie Where The Wind Comes From ahead of its world premiere in Sundance.
The movie – described by MAD Distribution as “a refreshing comedic ode to Tunisia’s youth” – revolves around fearless Alyssa and sensitive artist Mehdi, who have been best friends since childhood and feel cramped in their life on the outskirts of the capital of Tunis.
When Alyssa discovers an artist contest in Djerba that might be their ticket out, she pulls Mehdi into a fantastical journey across Tunisia which will put their friendship to the test.
The film, which was previously called Tunis-Djerba, will world premiere alongside nine other titles in Sundance’s World Dramatic Competition, which has previously spotlighted films such as Girls Will Be Girls, Scrapper, The Souvenir, Yardie and The Nile Hilton Incident.
“A lesson that’s hammered into us often in life is that the journey is usually more important than the destination, because while the destination may change or not be exactly like envisioned, how we get there and the experiences we pick up on the way are usually what stay with us when all is said and done,” said MAD Solutions co-heads Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab.
“Amel Guellaty’s Where The Wind Comes From is a road movie that perfectly captures that concept, and we’re excited to be on this journey with her,” they added.
Guellaty previously made waves with 2017 short film Black Mamba – about a young woman who rebels against the structured, middle-class destiny planned for her by her mother.
It was selected in over 60 international film festivals and won 20 awards. It was also broadcast by Canal+ and Italyâ’s RT Channel.
Her debut feature Where The Wind Comes From is produced by Asma Chiboub Tunisia’s Atlas Vision, who produced Black Mamba, and Karim Aitouna (I Am The People) of France’s Haut Les Maines Productions, with Chadi Abo on board as a co-producer.
The cast features Eya Bellagha, Slim Baccar (Streams), Sondos Belhassen (Benzine), and Lobna Noomene (Bastardo).
Frida Marzouk, whose credits include the John Wick franchise and Capernaum, is the cinematographer. Guellaty edited the feature alongside Ghalya Lacroix (Blue Is The Warmest Color) and Malek Kammoun (Under The Fig Trees) while sound mix is by Aymen Labidi.
The film is supported by France’s National Cinema Center (CNC), Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Visions Sud Est., Marrakech International Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops, Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Doha Film Institute, and El Gouna Film Festival’s CineGouna Funding.
It has also been supported by Tunisia’s Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image, Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Fonds Image de la Francophonie, and Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
English (US) ·