Paradise City Sales Boards New Film ‘The Station’ from Yemen at Cannes Critics’ Week
Paradise City Sale Secures World Sales Rights for Sara Ishaq’s Debut Feature ‘The Station’
CANNES, France — Paris-based Paradise City Sale has acquired the world sales rights to Sara Ishaq’s debut feature film, The Station, ahead of its upcoming premiere at Cannes Critics’ Week in May.
The film is one of seven features announced for the competition at Cannes Critics’ Week, which is set to showcase a total of 11 films during its 65th edition, scheduled from May 13 to 21.
Set in war-torn Yemen, The Station follows the story of Layal, who operates a women-only petrol station—a rare sanctuary for her female clients. The station implements strict rules: no men, no weapons, and no politics. When Layal’s younger brother faces military enlistment, she seeks the help of her estranged sister to save the only life they can.
Ishaq, who gained recognition with her Oscar and BAFTA-nominated short documentary Karama Has No Walls (2012), has also directed The Mulberry House, which premiered at IDFA and has screened at various global festivals.
Co-written with Nadia Eliewat, The Station has experienced a prolonged and prominent development process, even winning the top award for best film in post-production at the Final Cut in Venice program in 2025. The screenplay is inspired by real-life events Ishaq witnessed in her hometown of Sanaa, where she discovered the unique women-only petrol station, bringing together women of various backgrounds united in their quest to support their families amid conflict.
“The world of The Station distills what I cherish about Yemeni society into a fragile utopia, constantly shadowed by turmoil beyond its walls,” Ishaq stated. “It is a speculative space rooted in Yemen but not confined to a specific time or place, reflected through an absurd and sometimes exaggerated parallel reality. This film is less about war itself than about its consequences, focusing on the complexity and resilience of its characters."
Paradise City Sale expressed their admiration for the film, stating, “We were completely seduced by The Station, with its unique cinematic perspective set in a world rarely portrayed on screen. The film finds light within darkness, offering a heartwarming story of womanhood, family, and resilience.”
Produced by Screen Project (Jordan) and Ta Films Company, in collaboration with Georges Films (France), The Station also involves co-producers One Two Films (Germany), Keplerfilm (Netherlands), Barentsfilm (Norway), Setara Films (Yemen), The Imaginarium Films (Jordan), and SiamFilms (Egypt). Furthermore, the project benefits from co-production support from ARTE and ZDF / Das kleine Fernsehspiel, alongside partners Kalamata Film and Raxicon Private Capital Advisory.
Support for The Station comes from a conglomerate of funding bodies, including the Jordan Film Fund, Doha Film Institute, and various European organizations.
Paradise City Sale’s current roster also features titles in post-production, including Titanic Ocean by Konstantina Kotzamani, A Girl’s Story by Judith Godrèche, Baran: Inheritance by Joel Soh, and Love Lessons by Martin Provost.
