MAD Distribution Acquires All Arab Rights To Tunisian Director Erige Sehiri’s ‘Marie And Jolie’

EXCLUSIVE: MAD Distribution, the theatrical arm of Cairo-based studio MAD Solutions, has acquired all Arab world rights (outside of Tunisia) for Erige Sehiri’s upcoming female-led African drama feature Marie and Jolie.

The film follows Marie, Naney, and Jolie as they live under the same roof in Tunis in old house, which also conceals an evangelical church.

After taking in Kenza, a little girl who survived a shipwreck, the three women each begin to question their place in this blended family and in a country in crisis.

“This project began with my encounter with a former Ivorian journalist who emigrated to Tunisia and ended up building her own church, explained Sehiri. “As a former journalist myself, I was really fascinated by her and also wondered what allowed her to go from journalist to pastor?”

“This film first and foremost stems from striking encounters with several women. Through a collective experience, based on real events, my goal is to question societal norms, explore women’s intimacy, faith, love, sisterhood, and the challenge of forming deep attachments with others when we are aware that life here is temporary.”

Marie and Jolie is a Tunisian-French co-production that brings together Tunisia’s Henia Productions, France’s Maneki Films and Canal+ International, and MAD Solution.

The latter company previously collaborated with Sehiri on her last feature, Under The Fig Trees, which world premiere in Venice in 2021.

“Under The Fig Trees was a truly novel experience, living in that interesting yet illuminating space between documentary and fiction, which is why it resonated with audiences so much,” said MAD Solutions co-foudners Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab.

“When we heard that Erige Sehiri was working on a follow-up, we were only too eager to work with her again and even join hands with her this time as co-producers.”