‘The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul’: The opening movie of AWFFM

CAIRO – 24 February – 2018: "The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul" will be the opening movie of Arab Women Film Festival Malmo scheduled to kick off on March 2-4.

The film starred and was produced by Jordanian actor Saba Mubarak. The movie’s story is about an eight-year-old Syrian girl, Lena, who has lost her family members in the Syrian war.

Consequently, Lena goes with her toddler sister, their neighbour Mariam, along with others, to seek refuge in Turkey. Throughout the movie, Lena is homesick and wants to return back to her home, while Mariam looks forward to going to Europe.


The movie tackles the problems faced by Syrian refugees in Turkey as well as other countries. “The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul” is written and directed by Turkish Andac Haznedaroglu. Except for Saba Mubarak, the crew comprises of real Syrian refugees who were acting for the first time in their lives.

The movie previously won the Audience Award at the 54th International Antalya Film Festival and was screened in Cannes Film Festival.