Following its remarkable international festival run, YUNAN, the acclaimed second feature by Ameer Fakher Eldin, has been awarded Best Director at the Malmö Film Festival in Sweden, further cementing its status as one of the most celebrated Arab films on the global stage.
 
This latest recognition adds to an already impressive list of accolades for Fakher Eldin, whose visionary direction continues to resonate with audiences and critics alike. The Malmö Film Festival honor highlights the film’s powerful storytelling and distinct cinematic voice, as it continues to travel across major international platforms.
 
With MAD Distribution handling Arab World distribution, YUNAN is the second installment in Fakher Eldin’s ambitious HOME trilogy, which explores themes of estrangement and belonging, following his award-winning 2021 debut, THE STRANGER.
 
The film follows Munir, a man burdened by exile and haunted by a cryptic story repeatedly told by his ailing mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. His journey to a remote island in the North Sea — intended as a final act — takes an unexpected turn when a sudden flood disrupts his plans, opening the door to unforeseen possibilities.
 
Written, directed, and edited by Ameer Fakher Eldin, the film is a Canadian-German-Italian co-production, with contributions from Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
 
Since its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, YUNAN has screened at over 25 international festivals, garnering numerous awards, including Best Film at the FESCAAAL African, Asian, and Latin American Film Festival in Italy; the Golden Firebird at the Hong Kong International Film Festival; Best Film and Best Actor at the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival; Best Cinematography at the Bari International Film & TV Festival; Best Film at the Arab Critics Awards for European Films; and Best Actor and Director at the Red Sea International Film Festival.
 
The film stars Lebanese actor, director, and producer George Khabbaz, alongside German cinema icon Hanna Schygulla, Palestinian actor Ali Suleiman, and GAME OF THRONES stars Sibel Kekilli and Tom Wlaschiha, in addition to renowned Lebanese actress Nidal El Ashkar.
The score is composed by Suad Bushnaq, with cinematography by Ronald Plante, production design by Marie-Luise Balzer, and sound design by Kuen-Il Song and Marcus Stemler.
 
Produced by Dorothe Beinemeier, Catherine Chagnon, Marco Valerio Fusco, Micaela Fusco, Alaa Assad, Hind Anabtawi, and Paola Corvino, the film is executive produced by MAD Solutions founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab.
 
YUNAN is a collaboration between Red Balloon Film, Microclimat Films, Intramovies, Fresco Films, Metafora Productions, and Tabi360, and was supported by the Red Sea Fund, the Royal Film Commission – Jordan, MOIN Film Fund, Eurimages, Telefilm Canada, and SODEC.
 
Born in 1991 in Kyiv to Syrian parents from the occupied Golan Heights, Ameer Fakher Eldin is an internationally acclaimed writer and director. His debut feature, THE STRANGER, premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, winning the Edipo Re Award, and was later selected as Palestine’s submission to the Academy Awards.
 
Fakher Eldin is currently working on the final chapter of his trilogy, NOSTALGIA: A TALE IN ITS FIRST CHAPTERS, a major international co-production that continues to build on his exploration of identity, exile, and memory.