Ghost Hunting

Documentary by Raed Andoni

94 minutes – 2017

Original Title

Istiyad Ashbah

Synopsis

In order to confront the ghosts that haunt him, Palestinian director Raed Andoni assembles an eclectic group of ex-prisoners to recreate the Al-Moskobiya, Israel’s main interrogation centre, where he was himself jailed at age 18. Day after day, these construction workers, a blacksmith, an architect, an assistant director give shape to their memories of how they survived with grit and a sense of humor. As the walls of the cells rise, the tongues and the emotions loosen.

Production

Co-production with:
Les Films de Zayna (France)
Dar Films (Palestine)
Arte France
RTS Radio Télévision Suisse

Festivals & Awards (selection)

32. Berlinale Internationale Filmfestspiele, Berlin, 2017
– Glashütte Original Dokumentarfilmpreis –
– Panorama Publikumspreis, 3.Platz Bester Dokumentarfilm –

46. Festival du Nouveau Cinéma Montréal, 2017
– Prix pour la paix –

14. Yerevan International Film Festival, Golden Apricot, 2017
– Best Documentary Award –

15. Festival International du film sur les droits humains, Genève, Competition, 2017

30. IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, 2017

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IMDB

Distribution: Urban Distribution International

Trailer:

For more than 25 years, one image has been haunting director Raed Andoni – that of a boy (18), head covered with a bag and handcuffed, sitting inside a prison yard. The same sounds always accompany this image: metal doors opening and footsteps slowly approaching. Through the lower part of the bag, the boy can see a man wearing white sneakers walking away. A survivor of the prison experience himself, Raed has fragmented memories that he can’t distinguish as real or imaginary.

In order to confront the ghost that haunts him, he decides to rebuild the Al-Moscobiya investigation center in an empty warehouse near Ramallah. A casting call for former prisoners results in an eclectic group of construction workers, a blacksmith, an architect and an artist. As they build a copy of their former jail based on their own memories, Raed digs deep into their memories, triggered by reenactments and roleplaying. For this purpose, he focuses on the story of Mohammad (50), whom the resistance to the investigation methods – stoked by laughter and rebellion – made him a hero among Palestinians.

Stills

Cast

Ramzi Maqdisi (Abu Atta) Mohammed «Abu Atta»
Khattab (himself)
Raed Andoni (the director)
Atef Al-Akhras (the set dresser)
Wadee Hanani (the assistant director)
Adnan Al-Hatab (the «father» and set builder)
Abdallah Moubarak (the blacksmith)
Anbar Ghannan (the groom and poet)
Raed Khattab (the cheerful prisoner)
Monther Jawabreh (the visual artist)

Credits

Directed by: Raed Antoni
Scénario: Raed Antoni with the collaboration of Alexis Galmot and Olivier Lorelle
Production: Palmyre Badinier (Les Films de Zayna), Raed Andoni (Dar Films), Nicolas Wadimoff (Akka Films)
Co-production: Fabrice Puchault (ARTE), Irène Challand and Gaspard Lamunière (RTS)
Cinematography: Camille Cottagnoud
Editing: Gladys Joujou
Animation: Luc Perez
Location Sound Mix: Olivier Claude
Sound Mix: François Musy
Sound Design: Nicolas Becker

Press

Hollywood reporter
Film Explorer
Daily-movies
Mediapart

Awards

32. Berlinale Internationale Filmfestspiele, Berlin, 2017
– Glashütte Original Dokumentarfilmpreis –
– Panorama Publikumspreis, 3.Platz Bester Dokumentarfilm –
46. Festival du Nouveau Cinéma Montréal, 2017
– Prix pour la paix –
14. Yerevan International Film Festival, Golden Apricot, 2017
– Best Documentary Award –
Arab FF, Official Selection, 2017
– Audience Award –
39. Cairo Internationnal Film Festival (Ciff), 2017
– Saad Eldin Wahba Prize for Best Arab Film –

Festivals

30. IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, 2017
14. Indielisboa IFF, Special Screenings, 2017
10. Subversive Film Festival, Zagreb, Documentary Competition, 2017
9. Mostra du Cinéma Arabe et Mediterranéen de la Catalogne, Barcelone, 2017
24. Minsk Listapad IFF, 2017
Boston Palestine Film Festival, 2017
BIFF, Bogotà International Film Festival, 2017
30. exground filmfest Wiesbaden, 2017
39. Cairo International Film Festival, Competition, 2017
21. Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival, Competition, 2017
17. Muestra Internacional de Cine, Doc Buenos Aires, 2017
58. Festival dei Popoli Firenze, Competition, 2017
46. Festival du Nouveau Cinéma Montréal, 2017
39. Moscow International Film Festival, 2017
Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival, 2017
19. Encounters International Documentary Film Festival Cape Town & Johannesburg, Competition,2017
43. Seattle International Film Festival, Competition, 2017
14. Docs Against Gravity Film Festival, Warsaw, Competition, 2017
10. Beldocs, International Documentary Film Festival, Belgrade, 2017
32. DOK.fest Internationales Dokumentarfilmfestival München, 2017
39. Cinéma du Réel Festival international de films documentaires Paris, Competition, 2017
15. Festival International du film sur les droits humains, Genève, Competition, 2017
32. Panorama Berlinale, 2017