FARHA
Synopsis
Farha is a 14 year old girl who lives in a small village in Palestine, 1948. Girls her age are traditionally married off or spoken for yet Farha wants to continue her education despite traditions and the restrictions on schooling in her village for boys only. Inseparable from her best friend Farida, who lives in the city but who spends weekends in the village, Farha dreams of joining her at a school in the city. Life in the village is threatened and aggressively changed by the looming danger. Just when Farha’s father is finally convinced and Farha’s dream is at last coming true, the danger comes closer to their village.
As violence escalates, Farha is brutally separated from Farida. Terrorized for his daughter’s safety and fearing for her life, Farha’s father locks her up in a concealed, small food storage space by the house, promising to return. But he never does. Over the course of the next few days, Farha undergoes a life-changing experience while buried in the tight dark space, her only connection to the outside world is a small hole in the wall and a few cracks in the wooden door. Farha witnesses a lot of events, outside and inside the room, setting off her journey of transformation and forcing her to grow up and leave her childhood behind
Title | FARHA |
Original Title | Farha |
Directed by | Darin J. Sallam |
Starring | Karam Taher , Ashraf Barhom, Ali Suliman |
Genre | Drama, Coming of Age, Action |
Running time | 92 min |
Language | English, Arabic |
Nationality | Jordan , Sweden , Saudi Arabia |
Scriptwriter | Darin J. Sallam |
Cinematographer | Rachel Aoun |
Produced by | TaleBox Co-produced by Laika Film & Television In co-production with Chimney |
Local Release | 2022 - Oct 21 |
Film Status | Completed |
Festivals
World Premiere: Toronto IFF - Discovery Section - TIFF Next Wave
Rome FF - Official Selection
Asian Premiere: Busan FF - A Window on Asian Cinema
Red Sea FF - MENA Premiere
Göteburg IFF - Scandinavian Premiere - International Competition
Aswan International Women’s Film Festival - Egyptian Premiere - International competition section
Cleveland International Film Festival - US Premiere
South/Lyon Cinemas Festival - French Premiere
Septimus Awards - Nominated for Best Asian Film
Seoul International Children's Film Festival - Official Competition
Skip City International D-Cinema Film Festival - International Competition - Japan Premiere
Busan International Kids & Youth Film Festival
Safar Film Festival - UK Premiere
Amman International Film Festival - Jordan Premiere
Atlantida Mallorca Film Fest - Spanish Premiere
Awards
FARHA selected to represent Jordan at the 95th Academy Awards (Oscars) for Best International Feature Film
Best Youth Feature Film Award at the 15th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) - "Asian Oscars" 2022 (historic first win for Jordan at APSA)
Red Sea Int. FF 2021 - Special mention Award by the Red Sea Competition Jury
Aswan International Women's Film Festival 2022: Best Euro-Mediterranean Film dealing with Women Issues-EU Award; Best Director - Darin J Sallam; Best Actress - Karam Taher
Malmo Arab Film Festival 2022: Jury Award
Boston Palestine Film Festival 2022 - Audience Awards
Grand Prize - 3rd Casablanca Arab Film Festival 2022
Best Director - Darin J Sallam - 3rd Casablanca Arab Film Festival
Best Actress - Karam Taher - 3rd Casablanca Arab Film Festival
Best Feature Narrative Film - 9th Tripoli Film Festival 2022
News
(SCREENDAILY) OSCARS BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE 2023: ALL THE FILMS SUBMITTED SO FAR
(Arab News) FARHA within the best movies of 2021 from the Arab world
(Arab News) 'I'm not afraid to tell the truth:' Jordanian filmmaker Darin Sallam discusses 'Farha'
(The National) Claustrophobic film 'Farha' retells the horrors of 1948's Nakba in Palestine
(D1softballnews.com) Farha's review, by Darin J. Sallam
(Arab News) Review: Red Sea International Film Festival title 'Farha' is a devastating look at war
(ScreenDaily) 'Farha': Red Sea Review
(The New Arab) Farha: Growing old through the brutality, injustice and sorrow of the Nakba
(Festival Scope) Highlight: Darin J. Sallam and her feature film FARHA
(movietrainer) Farha: a first work that is a tribute to the value of life
(the Globe and Mail) TIFF 2021: “Farha” Review
(CityNews) TIFF 2021: "Farha": The horrors of war
(Reels Film) TIFF 2021: “Farha” Review
(Backseat Mafia) TIFF 2021: “Farha” Review
(Ian Thomas Malone) TIFF 2021: “Farha”
(Let The Movie Move Us) TIFF 2021: “Farha”
(BUZZFEED.NEWS) "Farha" - 12 Great Movies Coming Out Soon
(The Moveable Fest) “Farha” Sheds Light on the Burden of Bearing Witness
(Woman and Hollywood) TIFF 2021 Women Directors: Meet Darin J. Sallam - “Farha”
(The Film Stage) TIFF Review: Farha
(Variety) Picture Tree International Boards Toronto-Bound 'Farha,' Debuts Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)