The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul

Name: The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul
Genre: Drama
Released: 2016
Duration: 83 min

Director: Andaç Haznederoğlu

Rights:

Highlights

While showing Meryem and Lena overcoming the hurdles of a big city in a foreign country and becoming heroines of their story, the film enables people to have a better understanding of Syrian refugees’ feelings and the harsh reality they face every day.
Most of the film’s cast are real refugees acting for the first time.
The film stars Jordanian star Saba Mubarak, whose repertoire includes a number of Arab and international films such as the Swedish films Agent Hamilton: But Not If It Concerns Your Daughter and Hamilton: In the Interest of the Nation.
MAD Solutions released the film in Jordan, Lebanon and Kuwait.
The film took part in the European Film Market (EFM), held as part of the Berlin International Film Festival.
It was selected at several prestigious international film festivals, winning a number of awards.

2016/ Turkey - Jordan83 min/ Drama

Original Title

Misafer: Halab-Istanbul

SYNOPSIS

The film follows the journey of Lena and Meryem during their escape from the war in Syria. Lena is a ten-year-old girl who has lost her family in the war. She finds herself forced to make her way to Turkey with her baby sister and their neighbor Meryem, along with the other refugees. Lena wants to return home, while Meryem’s hope is to reach Europe.

CAST

Saba Mubarak
Rawan Skeif
Ahmad-Homam Hout
Şebnem Dönmez

CREW

Screenwriter: Andaç Haznederoğlu
DOP: Hayk Kirakosyan
Efe Kubilay
Editor: Ahmed Hafez
Can Yagan

Production Company(ies)

Istanbul Film Production (IFP)
Istanbul Digital (ID)
Pan East Media
ANDAC Film

Producer(s)

Saba Mubarak
Andaç Haznederoğlu

Arab Women Film Festival, Sweden

LET’S CEE Film Festival, Austria

Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), Germany

Arab Film Festival, South Korea

Boston Turkish Film Festival, USA

Antalya Film Festival, Turkey

International Bosphorus Film Festival, Turkey

Silk Road International Film Festival, Ireland

Beirut Women International Film Festival (BWFF), Lebanon

Dhaka International Film Festival, Bangladesh

Casablanca Arab Film Festival, Morocco

Arab Film Festival-Amman, Jordan

Manarat Mediterranean Film Festival, Tunisia

Malmö Arab Film Festival – MAFF, Sweden

Audience Award at the Antalya Film Festival, Turkey

Best Feature Film and Best Editing at the International Bosphorus Film Festival, Turkey

Best Feature and Best Actress at the Silk Road International Film Festival (SRIFF), Ireland

Special Mention at the Casablanca Arab Film Festival, Morocco

Reviews

Esraa El Radaida-Alghad

Quotes

“A powerful message of love and hope that raises awareness among audiences.”
Esraa El Radaida - Alghad