We are thrilled to announce that LYD has been acquired by Icarus Films for North American distribution. Since 1978, Icarus Films has been a leading distributor of documentary films in North America. Led by longtime president Jonathan Miller, we work with independent producers worldwide to release 30-50 new films a year, and represent a collection of well over 1,000 titles. Each year Icarus releases six to eight feature documentaries to theatrical audiences, and we are thrilled to be one of those films for this year. In additional to theatrical, Icarus will also distribute LYD to festivals and educational venues.
After 7 years of believing in this film and fighting for it, we could not have asked for a better reception from both audiences and critics at LYD’s premiere at the Amman Film Festival. We had two sold-out screenings and then the festival added a third, which was a full house. The film provoked tears, laughter, and passionate conversation during the Q and As.
We won two awards –– The Jury Award for Arab Feature Documentary Film and the International Film Critics Award (FIPRESCI Prize).
The FIPRESCI prize is given by the International Federation of Film Critics and is awarded at film festivals of particular importance at the discretion of FIPRESCI. The General Assembly decides at which festivals FIPRESCI juries are to be established, and also decides which kind of films or which sections of the festivals are to be included for the jury.
MAD Solutions acquired exclusive distribution rights for LYD for Arab-language-speaking territories. All other rights are still available. Under the umbrella of MAD Solutions, the studio is supported by five pillars: MAD Marketing, MAD Content, MAD Distribution, MAD Culture and MAD Celebrity, which together are helping to usher in an exciting new generation of Arab filmmakers and entertainment talent.
Mad attends at least 20 film festivals (Arab and International), summits, and workshops annually including Cannes, Berlinale, DIFF, ADFF, Toronto, Locarno and many more. They pride themselves on having the most extensive and up-to-date database on the Arab film industry, spanning over 20 years of a rich heritage that is still growing to this day, despite the political and socio-economic challenges.
On the 74th anniversary of the Nakba, Palestinian journalist and filmmaker Rami Younis shares the city of Lyd’s past, present, and a possible alternative future.
by Ghousoon Bisharat and Thomas Dallal in Mondoweiss
LYD is invited to pitch at the Cannes Film Festival 2018 Doc Corner as part of the first-ever Palestinian Film Delegation to Cannes sponsored by the Palestine Film Institute.
LYD raised more than $40,000 from almost 300 backers who are excited to support the film’s post-production.
We are still raising money for finishing costs and distribution. For information on how to support this project, contact us!
To understand what’s happening in cities like Lyd/Lod, you have to look back in time. For today’s newsletter, Editor-in-Chief Arielle Angel spoke with filmmakers Rami Younis and Sarah Ema Friedland about their documentary Lyd.
By Arielle Angel in Jewish Currents