Mad Distribution Acquires MENA Rights for the Bold Moroccan Thriller ‘Behind The Palm Trees’ – Marrakech
Mad Distribution Acquires MENA Rights for Meryem Benm’Barek’s ‘Behind The Palm Trees’
Mad Distribution has secured the MENA rights to "Behind The Palm Trees," a film by Moroccan director Meryem Benm’Barek that premiered in competition at the Marrakech Film Festival this past weekend.
The Cairo-based film and talent company will manage the release of the film throughout the MENA region and will present it as part of its new theatrical showcase, CineMAD, which launches in December.
The thriller artfully combines various genres while examining the repercussions of colonialism and the complexities of relationships within a conservative society. Set in Tangier, the film features Driss Ramdi as a young Moroccan man torn between two women: his long-time fiancée, portrayed by Nadia Kounda, and a wealthy French woman played by Sara Giraudeau. As he becomes enamored with her glamorous lifestyle, he begins to neglect his local girlfriend, aware that his choices will have consequences.
The cast also includes esteemed French actress Carole Bouquet and Olivier Rabourdin. "Behind The Palm Trees" is a French-Moroccan-Belgian-Qatari co-production between Paris-based Tessalit Productions and Orlean-based Furyo Films, in collaboration with Mad Solutions.
Benm’Barek co-wrote the screenplay alongside UK-Moroccan BAFTA and BIFA-nominated director Fyzal Boulifa, with contributions from Emma Benestan and Agnès Feuvre. The film’s production team includes producer Jean Bréhat and cinematographer Son Doan, with editing by Christel Dewynter.
Supporting the film, the Doha Film Institute, Atlas Workshops, and the Red Sea Souk awarded it the coveted Distribution Prize by MAD Solutions, providing distribution, sales, and marketing services valued at $50,000.
Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, co-founders of Mad Solutions, remarked, “Behind The Palm Trees shows us how love, passion, and the euphoria that comes with them are a universal language that transcends borders, cultures, and ethnicities. It is an authentic and relatable Arab story with global appeal, and we couldn’t be more excited for you to see it.”
Commenting on her directorial vision, Benm’Barek stated, “This film comes from my desire to tell an intimate thriller, where romantic tensions slowly turn into dangerous forces. Tangier, a city full of contrasts, provided the perfect setting for this story.”
Born in Rabat, Morocco, Benm’Barek has lived in Morocco, France, and Belgium. She joined a directing program at Belgium’s INSAS in 2010, producing several short films, including "Jennah," which earned selection for various international festivals and was shortlisted for the 2015 Oscars. Her debut feature, "Sofia," won the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard and received multiple international accolades.
International sales are managed by Paris-based Pyramide International.
