All Projects

Weldi

Spring Grants 2017

Mohamed Ben Attia / Feature Narrative / Tunisia, France, Belgium, Qatar / 2018 / 104 min / Colour / Original Language: Arabic / Interests: Drama, Social Issues

Synopsis

A Tunisian couple are nearing retirement age, but times are hard, and money is tight. The life they share revolves around their only son Sami, who is preparing for his high school exams. The stress of school and questions of college are obviously getting to him, and the boy’s repeated migraine attacks are a cause of concern to his parents. Desperate, his father Riadh takes him to see a local psychiatrist, and this seems to bring Sami some mild relief. When things finally appear to be getting better, Sami suddenly disappears from the family apartment without warning, leaving only a note behind as a clue to where he might be gone.

Feeling a sense of guilt, Riadh goes on a tireless journey to locate his only child, but his fruitless search forces him to confront some harsh home truths of his own. A DFI granted film, ‘Weldi’ recently premiered at Cannes as part of their renowned Director’s Fortnight programme and features a striking performance by Mohammed Dhrif, who won the Best Actor Award at this year’s El Gouna Film Festival for the role.

Credits

Director

Mohamed Ben Attia

Screenwriter

Mohamed Ben Attia

Producer

Dora Bouchoucha, Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Nadim Cheikhrouha

Production Company

Nomadis Images, Les Films du Fleuve

Production Company

Nomadis Images

About the Director

Mohamed Ben Attia studied Audiovisual Communication at the University of Valenciennes in France after graduating from the Institut de Hautes Études Commerciales (IHEC) in Tunis in 1998. He has directed five short films. ‘Hedi’, his feature-film debut, had its world premiere at the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Best First Film Award and the Silver Bear for Best Actor.

Awards and Festival History

Festivals

"Festival de Cannes 2018, Directors’ Fortnight (WP)
Karlovy Vary IFF 2018, Another View
BFI London FF 2018
Fameck Arab FF 2018
Viennale IFF 2018
Mostra de Sao Paolo 2018
Chicago IFF 2018
Carthage FF 2018
Valladolid IFF 2018
World Cinema Amsterdam 2018

Awards

"Best Actor (Mohamed Dhrif), El Gouna FF 2018
Award for a stunning Artistic Expression, Rome Med FF 2018"

Contacts

• Main Contact

  Lina Chaabane

  Company: 

  Nomadis Images

  Phone: 

  +216 7174 9080

  Email: 

  nomadis.images@gmail.com

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