Four films we have supported are headed to the Toronto International Film Festival for their North American debut! After captivating audiences across Europe, these films are continuing their journey across the world. The films are being showcased as part of the Centrepiece, Wavelengths and TIFF Docs categories.

Premiering in the Centrepiece category:

“Happy Holidays”, directed by Oscar-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti, is a family drama set in contemporary Jerusalem. The story unfolds after a minor accident sparks a series of events that reveal hidden truths and lies, testing relationships and deepening divisions within a complex patriarchal society.

“To a Land Unknown”, also directed by a Palestinian filmmaker, Mahdi Fleifel, follows two Palestinian cousins who, after fleeing a refugee camp in Lebanon, find themselves stranded in Athens. Desperate to escape to Germany, they are pulled into a dangerous spiral. When one cousin's drug addiction leads to the loss of their savings, they resort to posing as smugglers and taking hostages in a last-ditch effort to escape their bleak situation.

Premiering in the Wavelengths category:

“Perfumed with Mint”, directed by Egyptian filmmaker Muhammed Hamdy, tells the haunting story of Bahaa, a lovesick physician, and his old friend Mahdy. The two friends, plagued by past traumas, flee through a deteriorating city, hiding in abandoned houses. As mint mysteriously sprouts from Mahdy's body, the pair encounter estranged companions, all haunted by memories of loss. The film explores themes of paranoia, fear, and the inescapable scars left by a troubled past.

Premiering in the TIFF Docs category:

“Sudan, Remember Us”, directed by Tunisian filmmaker Hind Meddeb, follows the stories of young Sudanese revolutionaries Shajane, Muzamil, Maha, Rufaida, Hamza, and Eros. The film portrays a generation fighting for freedom, equality, and change using their words, poems, and chants, capturing their defiance during and after the overthrow of a long-standing dictatorship and the brutal military crackdown that ensued.

For the full program and screening schedule of the 2024 edition, check the TIFF website.