(2023) 11 mins.
Directed by Ahmad Alyaseer
"A father and mother are faced with the painful task of washing and shrouding their deceased transgender daughter. Shrouding is an Islamic religious practice that is deemed obligatory to carry out upon death. But when no one agrees to wash her and shame falls onto the family, how far is the father willing to go to make sure his "son" is washed?"
Ahmad Alyaseer’s OUR MALES AND FEMALES Sets Sights on the OSCARS®: An Emotionally Charged Story of Gender Identity and Grief in the Middle East.
An Oscar® Qualifying Short Film That Leaves Audiences Awestruck.
124 AWARDS
160 FESTIVALS
47 COUNTRIES
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
ABOUT THE FILM
Original Title: Wa Thakarina Wa Unthana
Country of Production: Jordan
Duration: 11 min
Production: Film & Telfaz Productions
Language: Arabic
Genre: Drama
Film Category: Short, Fiction, Live Action
Sales Enquires: Ouat Media
Press Enquires: London Flair
FESTIVALS & AWARDS
CLERMONT-FERRAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Clermont, FRANCE | Europe Premiere
In competition ‘International Competition’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
Utah, USA | World Premiere
In competition ‘Best Narrative Short’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL
Tennessee, USA | Tennessee Premiere
WINNER ‘Best Narrative Short’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST
California, USA | California Premiere
In competition
‘Best Live Action Under 15 Minutes’
In competition ‘Best LGBTQ+’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
INDY SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Indiana, USA | Indiana Premiere
In competition ‘Narrative Short’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
ATHENS INTERNATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL
Ohio, USA | Ohio Premiere
In competition ‘Narrative Short’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL
Florida, USA | Florida Premiere
In competition ‘Best Narrative Short’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Ohio, USA
In competition ‘Best Live Action Short Film’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
REGARD SAGUENAY INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
Quebec, CANADA | Canadian Premiere
In competition ‘Parallel Competition’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
SHORT SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL & ASIA
Tokyo, JAPAN | Japan Premiere
In competition ‘Best International Short’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
ODENSE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Funen, DENMARK | Denmark Premiere
NOMINATED - ‘Best International Short’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
TIRANA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Tirana, ALBANIA | Albania Premiere
In competition ‘Best Fiction Short Film’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
THE WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL
New York, USA | New York Premiere
In competition ‘Best Short Film’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
SHOW ME SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND | New Zealand Premiere
In competition ‘Best Short Film’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
BRONZELENS FILM FESTIVAL
Atlanta, GEORGIA | Georgia Premiere
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
SHORTS MEXICO
Mexico, MEXICO | Mexico Premiere
IRIS PRIZE LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL
Cardiff, UK
NOMINATED - ‘£30,000 Iris Prize’
BAFTA Qualifying Festival
CORDILLERA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Nevada, USA | Nevada Premiere
WINNER - ‘Best LGBTQIA+ Award’
NOMINATED - ‘Best of Festival - Short Film’
NOMINATED - ‘Best International Short Film’
NOMINATED - ‘Best Director Short Film’
BOSTON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
Massachusetts, USA | Massachusetts Premiere
WINNER - ‘Best of Festival - Short Film’
WINNER - ‘Best LGBTQ+ Film’
DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Texas, USA | Dallas Premiere
WINNER - ‘Audience Award’ for Best Drama Short
WINNER - ‘Special Jury Prize’
PORTLAND FESTIVAL OF CINEMA, ANIMATION & TECHNOLOGY
Oregon, USA | Oregon Premiere
WINNER - ‘Best Dramatic Short’
SHORTS - INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - MAREMETRAGGIO
Trieste, ITALY | Italy Premiere
WINNER - ‘Audience Award’ for Best Short
PSAROKOKALO INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
Athens, GREECE | Greece Premiere
WINNER - ‘Best Film with Emphasis on Diversity’
DOKUFEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY AND SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
Prizren, KOSOVO | Kosovo Premiere
In competition ‘Best Short Film’
BAFTA Qualifying Festival
FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL CINÉMA EN LIBERTÉ
Toulon, FRANCE
WINNER - ‘Grand Prix Du Jury’
LA GUARIMBA FILM FESTIVAL
Amante, ITALY
WINNER - ‘Best Short Film’
FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL SIGNES DE NUIT
Bangkok, THAILAND | Thailand Premiere
WINNER - ‘Signs Award’
FEST - NEW DIRECTORS/NEW FILMS FESTIVAL
Espinho, PORTUGAL | Portugal Premiere
NOMINATED - ‘Silver Lynx Award’
BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Brisbane, AUSTRALIA | Australia Premiere
In competition ‘Best International Short Film’
OLDENBURG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Oldenburg, GERMANY | Germany Premiere
In competition ‘Best Short Film’
PRESS
“This is an agonizing and heart-breaking short film. The end is a pain that will persist.”
JOURNAL OF RELIGION & FILM | VOL. 27: ISS 1. ARTICLE 17.
“Director Ahmad Alyaseer delivers an outstanding job by showcasing the cultural differences that are really not far from the western world.”
ULKAR ALAKBAROVA | MOVIES MOVE ME
“The Alyaseers hit the nail on the head with their script, and it’s clear that they understand how to reach viewers in a clean-cut and non-divisive way .”
KYLE BAIN | BAIN’S FILM REVIEWS
“An absolute must see. Destined to be one of the best and most haunting films of 2023.”
STEVE KOPIAN | UNSEENFILMS.NET
“It’s compelling enlightening, eye-opening, somber, well-acted 11-minute film.”
WENDY SCHADEWALD | SUN THIS WEEK
“11 Minutes of pure emotion caught on screen.”
CHRIS JONES | OVERLY HONEST MOVIE REVIEWS
“This eleven-minute film deserves hours.”
AUSTIN CHARACTER | DREAMWEAVERARTS.ORG
“The plot is so powerful and timely that it may disturb and haunt many viewers long after the film is done.”
RAMZI SALTI | ARABOLOGY.ORG
“Through its evocative storytelling, the film leaves a lasting impact on its viewers, engaging them in a deeply moving cinematic experience.”
NAVID AZAD | ZIZ.NEWS
CAST & CREW
CAST
The Father | Kamel El Basha
The Mother | Shafiqa Al Tal
The Daughter | Tetiana Beras
Male Washer | Mutaz Al Labadi
Female Washer | Sana Saleh
CREW
Director | Ahmad Alyaseer
Writer | Rana Alyaseer and Ahmad Alyaseer
Producer | Mais Salman and Ahmad Alyaseer
Director of Photography | Samer Nimri
Production Designer | Yasmine Nassar
Editor | Abdallah Sada
Music Composer | Philip Hashweh
Co-Producer | Faris Halaseh
1st Assistant Director | Jude Kawwa
Gaffer | Ezz Isleem
Production Manager | Mousa Abboud
Script Supervisor | Natalie Soumbouloglou
Sound Recordist | Nour Halawani
Sound Designer and Mixer | Israel Banuelos
Makeup Designer | Suleiman Tadros
Colorist | Ahmad Ramahi
Casting Director | Mutaz Al Labadi
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Imagine you live in a society where no one accepts you for who you are, even after your death. It was a night in February 2021 when my sister, Rana, and I met Bousi, a transgender woman from the Arab region, that we wrote this script. Her story stood out to us and was extremely touching. Bousi spent her entire life seeking approval and acceptance from her family, friends and wider community. Eventhough she received legal approval to transition, she was never able to obtain official gender recognition, which increased her vulnerability to systemic discrimination. We wondered what would happen to a transgender person upon their death? Would the discrimination and nonacceptance still prevail ?
I realize there will be resistance to such narratives, but this is rooted in the fear of nonconformity to societal gender and sexual norms, and that’s why we need to make films that challenge those exact sterotypes/ideologies.
As a film writer and director, I want to make films that are bold, spark debate and challenge stereotypes, allowing audiences to think about issues they may not have considered before and shed light on certain taboos in their culture and region, in hopes of fostering empathy and tolerance. And I strongly believe that audiences are ready for films like “Our Males and Females”.
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