Sally El Hosaini
#FIRSTLOOK: NEW OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “THE SWIMMERS”
With the distinction of having been TIFF ’22‘s official Opening Night Selection, here is a new Trailer for THE SWIMMERS, based on an unbelievable true story.
ABOUT THE SWIMMERS
Based on a true story, THE SWIMMERS follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Two young sisters embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use. Starring Nathalie Issa, Manal Issa, Matthias Schweighöfer, Ahmed Malek, James Krishna Floyd, Nahel Tzegai, Kinda Alloush and Ali Suliman. Directed by Sally El Hosaini, with a screenplay written by El Hosaini and multi-award-winning screenwriter and playwright Jack Thorne. Produced by Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner alongside Ali Jaafar and Tim Cole with Stephen Daldry executive producing.
THE SWIMMERS is coming November 23, 2022 to Netflix.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
#TIFF22: 2022 TIFF TRIBUTE GALA AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Taking place last night at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, the TIFF Tribute Gala honored those who made a significant impact through their work in the Festival this year. Honorees range in tenure and stature and it was a star-studded affair!
2022 TIFF Tribute Award recipients:
Ensemble My Policeman
TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by Polestar
Sam Mendes
TIFF Ebert Director Award
Brendan Fraser
TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by IMDbPro
Hildur Guðnadóttir
TIFF Variety Artisan Award
Sally El Hosaini
TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM
Michelle Yeoh
TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award presented by BVLGARI
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media presented by Participant
(Photo/video credit: TIFF)
#TIFF22: “THE SWIMMERS”
By Amanda Gilmore
This Film tells the true story of swimming sisters Yusra (Nathalie Issa) and Sara Mardini (Manal Issa), who fled their home in war-torn Damascus to start a new life in Europe. Their goal was to make it to Germany, apply for an application to get their family to join them and earn a chance to compete in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.
The Swimmers is an inspirational story that has the ability to change people’s minds. Director Sally El Hosaini brings us into the life of the sisters during their time in Syria. They go to nightclubs and compete in their local swimming competitions. However, these scenes quickly turn. At the nightclub bombs go off in the distance and while Yusra is competing a bomb lands inside the pool. The striking imagery that Hosaini creates shows us the daily, constant threat posed to the people of Syria.
The strongest part of the Film is the journey the sisters take with their cousin (Ahmed Malek). Here, audiences see the horrors refugees endure on their quests for a better life. We watch as the sisters and their cousin, along with a group of refugees, must put their trust in strangers and the dangers of their journeys. The refugee story doesn’t end when the sisters arrive in Germany. We are taken into a camp and shown how they must live there.
The chemistry between real-life sisters Nathalie and Manal brings this inspirational story to the screen. When we get to the third act, the Mardini sisters begin chasing different dreams. Yusra still lives and breathes swimming. However, Sara goes in search of her true calling. Nathalie and Manal’s real sisterhood translates into their emotionally rich intimacy on screen.
The Swimmers screens as follows at TIFF ’22:
Thu, Sep 8 IN-PERSON at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre 6:00 pm
Thu, Sep 8 IN-PERSON at Roy Thompson Hall at 8:00 pm
Fri, Sep 9 IN-PERSON at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 12:00 pm
Sat, Sep 17 IN-PERSON at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre at 3:00 pm
#TIFF22: “THE SWIMMERS” ANNOUNCED AS OPENING NIGHT GALA
TIFF have announced today their Opening Night selection, which will be THE SWIMMERS! TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey, says “The Swimmers was the very best kind of surprise when we saw it this summer — an exciting, epic journey and the arrival of an important filmmaker. I’m thrilled that audiences in Toronto will be the first to discover Sally El Hosaini’s remarkable film, and that this year on our Opening Night we can honour everyone who risks everything to reach a better, safer life.”.
Based on a true story, The Swimmers follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Two young sisters embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use.
Starring Manal Issa, Nathalie Issa, Ahmed Malek, Matthias Schweighöfer, Ali Suliman, Kinda Alloush, James Krishna Floyd, and Elmi Rashid Elmi. Directed by Sally El Hosaini, with a screenplay written by El Hosaini and multi-award-winning screenwriter and playwright Jack Thorne. Produced by Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner alongside Ali Jaafar and Tim Cole with Stephen Daldry executive producing.
Netflix will be releasing THE SWIMMERS, and it will premiere September 8, 2022 at TIFF.
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