Handed out by the CNC at the 22^nd edition of Meetings on the Bridge, the professional sidebar of the 36th Istanbul Film Festival, the development support grant (endowed with €8,000) has been bestowed upon the project The Translator [+leggi anche:
recensione
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intervista: Rana Kazkaz e Anas Khalaf
scheda film] by duo of Syrian heritage Rana Kazkaz and Anas Khalaf (who previously made a huge splash with their short films, most notably Mare Nostrum). Interestingly, this project has also been selected for the 13^th edition of the Cinéfondation Atelier, which will unspool from 19-25 May as part of the 70th Cannes Film Festival (see the news). 

Written by Rana Kazkaz and Magali Negroni, based on an original idea by Rana Kazkaz and Anas Khalaf, the story begins in March 2011. As the Syrian Civil War erupts, a political refugee decides to return to Syria illegally and risk everything to free his brother, who has been arrested by the Assad regime.

The production is being staged by Nicolas Leprêtre and Raphaël Alexandre for Paris-based outfit Georges Films, together with Synéastes Films (the filmmakers’ company, based in Jordan).