Ahead of its world premiere in competition at the Locarno Film Festival, Tunisian filmmaker Ala Eddine Slim’s mystery drama “Agora” has been acquired by Pan-Arab distributor Mad Solutions for international distribution.
The film centers on three individuals who reappear in a remote Tunisian town after going missing, stirring up unrest within their families and the local community.
Local police inspector Fathi, aided by her friend Amine, investigates their disappearance and return, while a second inspector arrives from the capital. The narrative, which Slim describes as having a dream-like quality, reveals through the perspectives of a blue dog and a black crow, blending supernatural elements with the mystery.
Slim’s previous films, known for their minimal dialogue and atmospheric visuals, have been well-received: “The Last of Us” (2016) won the Lion of the Future Prize at Venice, and “Tlamess” (2019) was featured in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and later distributed by Mad Distribution in the MENA region. “Agora” will follow a similar distribution path in the Arab world through Mad Distribution, while Mad World, the company’s new international sales division, will handle global sales.
The cast of “Agora” includes Neji Kanaweti, Bilel Slatnia, Majd Mastoura, and emerging Tunisian actress Sonia Zarg Ayouna. Produced by French producer Julie Viez’s Cinenovo and Slim’s Exit Productions, the film received support from the Tunisian National Center for Cinema and Image, Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Fund, and Qatar’s Doha Film Institute.
Mad Solutions co-founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab expressed enthusiasm about presenting this intriguing investigative drama to the global market, highlighting its potential to capture audiences.