Haifa Street
Spring Grants 2018 - Post-Production Stage
Mohanad Hayal / Feature Narrative / Iraq, Qatar / 70 min / Original Language: Arabic / Interests: Thriller, War, Family, Psychological Drama
Synopsis
It’s 2006 and Baghdad is ravaged by sectarian violence. Haifa Street is the epicentre of the conflict, with masked gunmen and snipers reigning down terror for reasons and political allegiances that are unclear. When Ahmed gets dropped off there by taxi on his way to his beloved Suad’s house to ask for her hand in marriage, he gets shot by Salam, an anxious young sniper who’s living his own personal hell on a rooftop above. Suad desperately tries to save Ahmed, but Salam prevents anyone from approaching him under the threat of gunfire. When her daughter Nadia elicits the help of their cunning neighbour Dalal, all hell breaks loose under the ominous presence of the American occupation.
Credits
- Director
- Mohanad Hayal
- Screenwriter
- Mohanad Hayal, Hala Alsalman
- Producer
- Hala Alsalman, Ali Raheem
About the Director
Mohanad Hayal was born in 1985 in Iraq. After graduating from Baghdad University’s Faculty of Fine Arts in cinema, he gained considerable experience working as assistant director on many Arabic feature films. He has made a number of short and documentary films. His film ‘Happy Birthday’ was selected for the 2013 Berlin International Film Festival and received the Rising Star Award at the 2013 Rhode International Film Festival. Hayal is a seasoned journalist and is currently a freelance war videographer, documenting battles between the Iraqi Army and ISIS. He resides and works in Baghdad, also conducting filmmaking workshops as one of the founders of the Iraqi Independent Film Centre. He was Salam Salman’s script and production advisor on his short film ‘Gift from my Father’ which went on to win the 2015 Crystal Bear Award for the Best Short Film at the Berlin International Film Festival.