Paris-based MPM Premium has acquired world sales rights to hyperrealistic drama “Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream,” by Iraqi director-producer Mohamed Al-Daradji (“Son of Babylon”), ahead of the film’s world premiere at the current Locarno Film Festival.
Screening Aug. 12 in Locarno’s Piazza Grande section, the film’s next stop will be as part of the Toronto Film Festival’s Centerpiece selection in September.
The feature tells a story of loss and hope set in war-torn Baghdad’s streets in 2019, following Chum-Chum, a diabetic 9-year-old boy seeking his dead parents through a mythical gate to Irkalla in the Tigris River, while friend Moody faces militia recruitment.
“Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream” teams companies from Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, France, U.K. and Saudi Arabia, being produced by Al-Daradji-founded Iraqi Independent Film Center, alongside Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Humanfilm, in co-production with Lionceau Films and Biet Ameen.
“‘Irkalla’ is my return to a wound that never healed –a myth reborn through the soul of a child. Not just a film, but a whispered resistance against silence, and a dream that memory, love, and myth can still save us,” Al-Daradji said in a statement.
“It is rare to find partners who not only recognize the artistic power of a work but also share a deep commitment to bringing such stories to audiences worldwide. Having a company that genuinely believes in the children at the heart of this film gives me great confidence as we bring ‘Irkalla’ to the world,” he commented.
Born in Baghdad, Al-Daradji is well known for his socially-engaged cinema. His sophomore film, “Son of Babylon,” became Iraq’s foreign-language film Oscar entry in 2010 and a Sundance World Cinema player, snagging multiple awards at key international festivals such as Berlin, Rotterdam, Seattle, Raindance, Tallinn and Seville.
“We were profoundly moved by the film’s artistic power, its distinctive cinematic language, and the emotional depth of its message,” added Jean-Charles Mille, managing director at MPM Premium, a sales company with a strong focus on international auteurist cinema, launched in 2018.
“The children — the heart of the film — are portrayed with extraordinary authenticity and emotional nuance, leaving a lasting impression. It’s a universal tale that transcends borders,” he explained.
Ben Ross, Image Nation Abu Dhabi CEO, added: “We are committed to supporting bold filmmakers who challenge perceptions and bring cultural representation to unheard voices. ‘Irkalla’ is a powerful and timely film.”
“Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream” has been supported by the Ile-de-France Region, the Doha Film Institute, the Red Sea Fund, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) and the French Embassy in Iraq.
“Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream”
Courtesy of MPM Premium
