Ever the festival regular, MAD Solutions screened two films from its distribution slate — Ahmed Moghazy’s HUMMUS AND CHIPS and Khalil Dreyfus ZAAROUR’s THE BIRDS HAVE LEFT BEIRUT — on Saturday, August 19th as part of the activities of the 11th edition of the Lebanese Film Festival in Australia, which is running from August 17th to September 2nd in Sydney.
 
Highlighting Isolation and racism, the Egyptian short film HUMMUS AND CHIPS was directed, written, and edited by Ahmed Moghazy and shot by the award-winning cinematographer Rui Jiang Ong.
 
Previously featured in festivals like Lavazza IncluCity and the UAE’s Meta Film Festival, the film is set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 lockdown, where lonely, grumpy, racist grandma Margaret is anxiously waiting for her coronavirus test results. She then makes the unusual decision to spend a full day with her Arab neighbor, Bashar. Will this encounter go smoothly?
 
Be sure to catch HUMMUS AND CHIPS when it screens on Saturday, August 19th at 2:35 pm at the Bankstown Arts Center.
 
Meanwhile, Khalil Dreyfus Zaarour’s Lebanese short THE BIRDS HAVE LEFT BEIRUT promises viewers an inspiring ride through the crisis that took place on August 4th, 2020 — a day that rocked a country, transformed a city, and devastated lives.
 
Previously, the Lebanese short — whose director, writer, editor, and producer Zaarour won more than 45 awards and nominations worldwide for his highly acclaimed debut feature NOUR — world premiered at the prestigious Cairo International Film Festival.
 
The film’s screening is scheduled for Saturday, August 19th at 11 am at the same venue. You won’t want to miss it.