Dégradé, a Palestinian comedy about life on the Gaza Strip, looks set to have a berth at the Cannes Film Festival after it was announced at the Berlin Film Market that the top French company Elle Driver had taken on world sales. The Paris-based agents, who recently handled Cherien Dabis's May in the Summer, have a track record in getting films to Cannes.
The directors – twin brothers Tarzan and Arab (Ahmad and Mohamed Abu Nasser) – saw their 2013 short film Condom Lead, about the complications of relationships in a conflict zone, premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Some parts of their latest film were based on real-life events that took place in Gaza in 2007, when a stolen lioness was liberated from the compound of one of Gaza's most powerful clans. The Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass and Habibi star Maysa Abdul Hadi, feature in the ensemble cast.
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