Mohammed Assaf’s film will debut at Toronto film festival

Hany Abu-Assad’s The Idol (Ya Tayr El Tayer). Courtesy TIFF

A week after Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf revealed his upcoming biopic will debut at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival, event organisers confirmed the news as they announced this year’s programme.

The Idol (Ya Tayr El Tayer), directed by Oscar-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad, is loosely based on Assaf's life and follows his journey from growing up in Gaza to becoming an Arab music ­superstar. In an exclusive interview with The National recently, Assaf said he plans to attend the premiere in Canada and hopes the film inspires viewers.

“The main theme of the film is success, how one can achieve it when you are surrounded by obstacles – which in my case remains the occupation and wars – and how despite all of these things, you can still make something out of yourself if you strive hard and have the support of family and friends, who provide you with hope,” he said.

“The film affected me deeply when I watched it – it made me laugh, I also cried and I ­connected with all of the ­characters in it.”

Other festival highlights of particular interest to regional audiences include Meghna Gulzar's Guilty (Talwar), ­starring Irrfan Khan, a drama about a mystery surrounding a 14-year-old's death and whether or not it is related to the controversial practice of honour killings. The film will be screened as part of the ­festival's Special Presentations ­programme.

Also on the programme is The Septembers of Shiraz, ­starring Salma Hayek. The drama, directed by Wayne Blair, is set in Iran during the 1979 revolution and follows the plight of a young Jewish woman whose father is arrested on suspicion of being a spy. The cast also includes Shohreh Aghdashloo and Adrien Brody.

Documentary filmmaker ­Michael Moore's first film in six years, Where to Invade Next, will also premiere. Little is known about the film, but festival ­organisers say it may be the Fahrenheit 9/11 director's "most provocative and hilarious movie yet".