Khmissa by Molka Mahdaoui (Tunisia/France 2000, 14 minutes, 35 mm)

Synopsis:
La Marsa, Tunisia, a wealthy suburb, a luxurious house. A woman is preparing to commit suicide with sleeping pills before her husband returns from a business trip, when the doorbell rings. Khmissa, an old Bedouin who is collecting stale bread in the area is at the door. She rings a second time…
In Arabic with English subtitles.

Post-screening panel discussion with director Nadia El Fani and leading actress Sonia Hamza, Mona Altahawy (Women’s e-News) and Emna Zghal (artist, NYC)

Biography:
Molka Mahdaoui began her film career as an assistant director on the TV movie Desert of Fire by E.G. Castellari in 1996. Throughout the late 1990’s she worked as an editor on such films as First Christmas by Kamel Cherif and the documentary A Season by Brigitte Coscas. She has also worked as an assistant director on several films including two documentaries for Beaubourg, Grand Canal and Terra Luna Production. Molka Mahdaoui has written screenplays for the cartoon series Viva Carthago and the short film Intra-muros. Her short film Khmissa has won major success at international film festivals and garnered many awards. She is currently completing her latest film The Spirit and the Heart.

Festivals & Awards:
Tunisian premiere - Le Mondial, Tunis, 2000
French premiere - Le Cinéma des Cinéastes, Paris, 2000
Film From the South, Oslo, 2000
MIFF, Milan, 2000, in competition
La Boca Del Lobo Madrid, 2000, in competition
Carthage Film Festival, Tunis, 2000, Panorama Section, Canal + Prize
International Film Festival of Bilbao, 2000, in competition
Brest Film festival, 2000, film market
Three Continent Film Festival, Nantes, 2000, special screening
Short-film Festival of Clermont-Ferrand, film market, 2000
Rotterdam Film Festival, 2001
International Festival of Women’s Films, Créteil, 2001, in competition
International Festival of Mediterranean Cinema, Tetouan, Morocco, 2001, in competition
International Short-film Festival of Tunis 2001, in competition, Don Quichotte Prize
The Desert Rain Independent Film Festival, Avezzano, Italy, 2001, in competition, Best S.M. prize
Arabian Sights, Washington DC, 2001
Ismalia International Film Festival, Ismalia, Egypt, 2001, in competition, Special Mention
Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival, International panorama, 2001
International Women’s Film Festival, Turin, Italy, 2002, in competition, Third Prize
Mediterranean Short-film Festival, Tangier, Morocco, 2002, in competition,Best first work prize
Biennial of Arab Cinemas, Arab World Institute, Paris, 2002, in competition
Arab Film Festival of Beirut "Ayam Beirut Al Cinema'iya," 2002
Arab Film Festival of Fameck, France, 2002