This week Mohamed Al-Dardji's Um-Hussein received funding from the UK Film Council's development fund and are the team behind the film are in also talks with the Film Council's New Cinema Fund, as well as attaching Goalpost Film (The Escapist, Clubland) for world sales.
This intensely personal story - Al-Daradji's follow up to Ahlaam and War, Love, God And Madness - is being passionately supported by Sundance and produced by Human Film's Isabelle Stead and Iraq Al-Rafidain's Atia Al-Daradji (Ahlaam).
The film tells of a mother's journey to bring home her son against the debris of a war torn Iraq. Told through two parallel tales Hussein's turbulent life as an army deserter is told through the treacherous and courageous steps of his elderly mother Um-Hussein and his young son Ahmed on their pilgrimage to find him.
The film is receiving funding from Fond Sud (CNC), Screen Yorkshire's Development Fund, alongside the Kurdish and Iraqi Ministries of Culture.
Speaking about the developments, Isabelle said: "We are really pleased to have Goalpost Film, a British sales agent as part of the team for Um-Hussein. Their enthusiasm and dedication to supporting the project will certainly make this a stronger film.
"Tristan Whalley and Nicki Parfitt at Goalpost are real visionaries, and Mohamed, the team and I are really looking forward to working with them. We are also really thrilled to have the support of the UKFC's development fund which we are certain will help in furthering the potential Um-Hussein."
