“València Film Afers is conceived as a space to facilitate meetings between projects in development and established production partners in the Mediterranean and beyond. The aim of the forum is to create strong partnerships between members of the audiovisual industry in the countries it encompasses, with Valencia as the professional link," explains Nadia Hotait, director of València Film Afers. The professional event will take place on 29 and 30 October, as part of the 40th Mostra de València-Cinema del Mediterrani.

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Among the ten projects presented this year, two Spanish titles stand out. The Sleepers, a fantasy film by Dídac Gimeno, tells the story of a remote village where children begin to fall asleep for days on end. A doctor travels there to investigate possible poisoning (or perhaps the work of a vampire). Ultra Everything, a suspense comedy directed by the screenwriters of Fernando Colomo’s Poliamor para principiantes [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film], Marina Maesso and Casandra Macías Gago, follows two friends on Mars in the year 2090. They spend their days smoking cannabis and working out at the gym, until they find strange signs in one of their homes, setting off an adventure that quickly turns into a nightmare. “Our first feature film is a comedic exploration of masculinity, fear, and intimacy among men. We’re seeking guidance and, above all, collaborators who share our vision of a film that dares to laugh at pain while seeking tenderness and reconciliation," say the filmmakers.

Also arriving from Europe is Familiar Feelings, a Portuguese drama directed by Mónica Lima, about a woman who returns to her family home after several years living abroad and observes her relatives from a distance as they welcome her back. “I wanted to create a film that explores the underlying relationship between landscape and emotions. The parallel between the erosion of family ties and environmental deterioration reflects a world in which the scarcity of natural resources mirrors the inner collapse of individuals overwhelmed by impossible expectations,” explains the filmmaker.

Removal (Odvzem), a drama inspired by real events in Slovenia and directed by Darko Štante (Consequences [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Darko Štante
interview : Timon Sturbej
fiche film], premiered in the Discovery section at Toronto), tells the story of a social worker who follows orders to remove children from a troubled home, an act that triggers public outrage, personal isolation and the breakdown of his own family.

The Dream Betrayed Me is a drama co-produced by Syria, France and Belgium, filmed in Iraqi Kurdistan and Syria, and directed by Mohammad Shaikhow. It tells the story of a teenager whose only dream is to play football for his local club. But in Assad's Syria, where being Kurdish is already a crime, he scores a goal and triggers riots that are brutally suppressed, turning him into a symbol of the Kurdish struggle against the Syrian regime.

The documentary produced between Egypt and Spain, On the Bicycle (Ala El Agala), by Amal Ramsis (You Come from Far Away), follows a young man cycling through downtown Cairo with bread on his head to sell. Accompanying him, the director discovers a different side of the city, transforming the journey into an adventure for both of them.

Also from Egypt comes I Am Afraid to Meet You Someday by Khaled Mansour (Seeking Haven for Mr Rambo, presented in the Orizzonti Extra section in Venice). The film follows a daughter searching for the truth about her mother and embarks on a journey that unravels the intertwined stories of three souls: herself, her mother — murdered for her freedom — and her uncle who keeps the secret.

From Lebanon comes Edition 96, a biopic directed by Ahmad Naboulsi that blends fiction and documentary. It follows a former Lebanese tennis champion as she recalls her rise to the top, from the control of her coach and husband to the battle against extremism on war-torn courts. Also Lebanese is To Whom It Concerns, a drama about generational trauma by Elie Kamal (Beirut Terminus) set within the confines of a dilapidated hotel, where one fateful night brings together the lives of its diverse inhabitants.

Finally, Reclaiming Time is an experimental Palestinian non-fiction film by first-time feature director Fuad Hindieh, who attempts to legally change his date of birth in order to reclaim lost years — a surreal act of resistance against an occupation that fragments life, erases moments and distorts time.

The list of projects:

The Sleepers - Dídac Gimeno (Spain)
Production:  Dark Studios

Reclaiming Time - Fuad Hindieh (Palestine)
Production: Twenty Seven

To Whom It Concerns - Elie Kamal (Lebanon)
Production company: The Attic Productions

Familiar Feelings - Mónica Lima (Portugal)
Production:  Seara Filmes

Ultra Everything - Marina Maesso, Casandra Macías Gago (Spain)
Production: Amora Films

I Am Afraid to Meet You Someday - Khaled Mansour (Egypt)
Production: The Rambos’ Productions

Edition 96 - Ahmad Naboulsi (Lebanon/France)
Production: OOBconcept, Altera

On the Bicycle - Amal Ramsis (Egypt/Spain)
Production: Klaketa Árabe

The Dream Betrayed Me - Mohammad Shaikhow (Syria/France/Belgium)
Production: Camille Laemlé, Les Films d’Ici

Removal - Darko Štante (Slovenia)
Production: Staragara