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Dir. Shahad Ameen - 2021 - 75m - Saudi Arabia - In Arabic with English Subtitles - NO MATINEEES

Saudi Arabia's Official Submission for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards!

A visually stunning feminist parable set in a dystopian landscape. It follows the story of a strong-willed young girl, Hayat, whose poor fishing village is governed by a dark tradition: every family must give one daughter to the mermaid-like sea creatures who inhabit the waters, to ensure the village can continue their fishing expeditions.  When Hayat’s father refuses, the girl becomes a pariah, considered a curse by the village and urged to sacrifice herself - but Hayat has her owns plans for her destiny.

"A visually arresting feminist fable... a gorgeous sensory experience." - THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

"In her feature debut, Saudi Arabian filmmaker Shahad Ameen has crafted a gorgeously shot, grim fairy tale with little dialogue but much to say about the plight of women in her country and around the world." - Kimber Myers, Los Angeles Times

"With its glittering black-and-white cinematography, immersive sound design, eerie score and creepy reveal, the film taps into something primal and chilling..." - Alissa Simon, Variety

"A timeless magical realist fable with a contemporary feminist message." - Stephen Dalton, Hollywood Reporter

"Unhurried feminist parable with a powerful message, dazzling visual appeal (in a stylized black-and-white) and interesting symbolism and surrealism." -Filipe Freitas, Always Good Movies

"Whether fans of genres or thoughtful, striking-looking cinema, viewers can debate actions, symbols, and what happened. But this debut feature won't be easily forgotten." - Nora Lee Mandel, Maven's Nest

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Dir. Julien Faraut - 2021 - 100m - France - In Japanese and French with English Subtitles

The Thrilling Story of How a Group of Humble Female Textile Workers Became One of The World’s Fiercest Global Volleyball Champions and The Pride of a Nation!

Special Thanks to the New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League (NMJACL)!

How did a group of humble factory workers become a phenomenal sports success story and the pride of an entire nation? Julian Faraut's (John McEnroe: In The Realm of Perfection) ferociously innovative and visually stunning The Witches of the Orient tells the tale of the Japanese women's volleyball team's thrilling rise, unbelievable 258 games winning streak, and eventual Olympic gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.  

United by their jobs in a textile factory, the Japanese women's volleyball team chased absolute perfection under the guidance of their grueling coach Hirofumi Daimatsu. Known as "the Demon,” his intense, endless practice sessions, shaped the team into a powerful force striking fear in the hearts of their competitors and earning them the racist and dismissive moniker "oriental witches.”   Faraut's sparkling documentary uses fantastic manga and anime sequences, such as Attack no 1 (1968), with archival footage of blood-curdling matches, extreme training sessions (driven by rhythmic editing and great music from French musician K-Raw) with testimony from the now-octogenarian teammates. The result charts the Witches' meteoric rise and overwhelmingly vital spirit. The 'Witches' success is infectious and offers a hopeful prelude to the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.

“The world-beating Japanese women’s volleyball team of the 1960s roars colourfully back to life.” - Screen Daily

“It makes for compelling cinema, telling a fairy-tale story that celebrates ‘oriental’ strength, style and resilience.”  - Business Doc Europe

“For those longing for tales of underdog victories, extreme athletic achievement, national allegories told through sports at the global stage, and for an appearance of the Tokyo Olympics (1964 version, that is), look no further.” - MUBI Notebook

“A fascinating portrait (buoyed by a sporty narrative that’s simple in its unfolding, but which becomes sophisticated, inventive and energetic through editing and music) of the emblematic, collective strength of character shown by these endearing women, who knock the ball out of the court before winning the final point.”  - Cineuropa

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