Inshallah A Boy

Director: Amjad Al-Rasheed
Rights:
Highlights Highlights Highlights
Jordan's official submission for the 96th Academy Awards
Screened at over 20 film festivals, winning 11 awards
World premiered at the Cannes Film Festival's 62nd Critics Week; winner of the Gan Foundation Award and the Rail d'Or Award for Best Feature Film
The first-ever Jordanian feature to be selected at Cannes
Winner of the Golden Frog for Best Directorial Debut at the esteemed Camerimage IFF in Poland
Produced and co-written by award-winning Jordanian producer Rula Nasser, whose credits include THE ALLEYS, AMIRA, and HOLY SPIDER
Inshallah A Boy Poster
2023/ Jordan, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar113 min/ Drama
Original Title
Inshallah Walad
SYNOPSIS
After the sudden death of her husband, Nawal is struggling to cope with the upheaval in her life. However, her pain is soon compounded by the possibility of losing her home to her brother-in-law. Desperate to keep her home and provide a stable life for her daughter, Nawal resorts to deception by faking a pregnancy. But as time passes, the lie becomes harder to sustain and Nawal faces a difficult choice. With only three weeks to find a solution, Nawal embarks on a journey that challenges her fears, beliefs, and morality, as she fights to secure her rightful inheritance and protect her daughter’s future.
CAST
Mouna Hawa
Haitham Omari
Yumna Marwan
Salwa Nakkara
Mohammad Al Jizawi
Eslam Al-Awadi
Celina Rabab'a

CREW

Screenwriters: Amjad Al-Rasheed, Rula Nasser, Delphine Agut
DOP: Kanamé Onoyama (AFC)
Editor: Ahmed Hafez
Composer: Jerry Lane

Production Company(ies)
The Imaginarium Films Bayt Al Shawareb Georges Films
Producer(s)

Rula Nasser, Aseel Abu Ayyash

film festivals
Cannes Film Festival (Critics’ Week), France (World Premiere)
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Horizons), Czech Republic (International Premiere)
Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia
Toronto International Film Festival, Canada
BFI London Film Festival, UK
Sydney Film Festival, Australia
World Cinema Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hamburg Film Festival, Germany
New Zealand International Film Festival, New Zealand
Rotterdam Arab Film Festival, Netherlands
Paysages de Cineastes Festival, France
Mystic Film Festival, US
Red Sea International Film Festival, Saudi Arabia
Camerimage Film Festival, Poland
AFI Fest, US
Stockholm International Film Festival, Sweden
Mill Valley Film Festival, US
Ghent Film Festival, Belgium
Busan International Film Festival, South Korea
Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece
Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, Brazil
Mumbai Film Festival, India
Montclair Film Festival, US
Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Australia
Golden Rooster Awards, China
film awards
Gan Foundation Award and the Rail d'Or Award for Best Feature Film at the Cannes Film Festival
Director’s Debut Award, Camerimage Film Festival
Best Actress at the Thessalonki International Film Festival, Greece
Best Actress at the Golden Rooster Awards
Best Performance at the Asia Pacific Awards
Best Screenplay for a Narrative Feature Award at the Mystic Film Festival
Best Actress and a Jury Award at the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival
Women’s Jury Award and Grand Jury Award at the Paysages de Cineastes Festival
Quotes
"With its compelling narrative, strong performances, and important message, Inshallah a Boy is a cinematic triumph that leaves a lasting impact on its viewers."
Maggie Gogler — View of the Arts

"Based on this gripping new film, anticipation for subsequent films from this region should be high."
Ankit Jhunjhunwala — International Cinephile Society

"A breathtaking marathon about a woman ensnared in the spider web of a male-dominant society held together by tradition and religion."
Shahram Ashraf Abyaneh — Deed

"Al-Rasheed employs his metaphors skillfully."
Amber Wilkinson — Eye for Film

"A droit female empowerment drama."
Vassilis Kroustallis — Film is a Fine Affair

"With his incendiary yet surprisingly grounded feature, Al-Rasheed joins the likes of contemporary male filmmakers like Aleem Khan and Saim Sadiq in exploring feminist concerns in Muslim lives."
Parth Pant — High On Films

"Minute by minute, the script — which is incredibly simple in its emotionality yet powerful in engaging the viewer, who finds himself helpless and speechless — reveals a wealth of information."
Ilaria Falcone — Non Solo Cinema

"Amjad Al-Rasheed delivers a captivating suspenseful story."
Firouz E. Pillet — JMAG

"Shot with incredible lightness and touch, Inshallah a Boy is a film that takes your breath away."
Sugar Pulp

"INSHALLAH A BOY is a huge triumph for Jordan and hopefully inspires a whole new generation of local filmmakers to tell daring stories and challenge us to think."
The Flemish Seth — Into: Screens

"Deftly makes use of scope and framing to maintain the intimacy of the story."
Tara Judah — Screen Daily

"Al-Rasheed's tightly-written script makes what could have been a dry and worthy story absolutely gripping throughout its running time."
Meredith Taylor — Film Uforia

"The film explodes like gunpowder in a conservative society, and boldly addresses what some consider taboo."
Howaida Hamdy — Raseef22

"Boasting gorgeous cinematography and a profound performance by, Inshallah A Boy becomes an instant hidden gem of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival."
Stephanie Archer — Film Inquiry

"The perils of single parenthood in the patriarchy are piercingly punctured in Inshallah A Boy, a tight, tense, thriller set in Amman, Jordan. "
Redmond Bacon — Journey into Cinema

“Gripping Debut Explores Faith and Oppression”
Phoenix Clouden — Geek Vibes Nation

“Amjad Al Rasheed's feature debut strikes a note of anxious humor right as it starts.”
Cláudio Alves — The Film Experience

“A dense, organic portrait of womanhood that will peel anyone to the screen from start to finish, this is one to look out for in future film discussion and award recognition.”
Josh of the Movies

“This superbly written, technically impressive film will get you under your skin, and it’s a must watch at the Cannes Film Festival.”
Serena Seghedoni — Loud and clear

“Inshallah a Boy is a compelling and emotionally charged film that shines a light on the resilience of women facing adversity and the urgent need for societal change.”
Ahlia Karam — Film Focus Magazine