Telefilm Canada-backed feature Jude & The Jinn has completed principal photography in Cairo and Toronto, with Alexander Siddig starring for writer-director Rolla Tahir.
Financed by Telefilm’s Talent to Watch programme and the multi-national New Dawn fund, the magic realist tale stars Saddig and newcomer Azza Abbaro in the story of thirty-something Nubian woman Jude, who is stuck in bureaucratic hell after immigrating to Canada. Jude, a Nubian woman who immigrated to Canada in her 30s, falls into depression when her father is deported. She then meets and becomes friends with a mysterious jinn. Deena Nina and Hudson Wurster also star. Tahir, who is also making her feature-length directorial debut, produces under the Qan Yama Qan Films label based in Toronto. Mercedes Cardella of Magic Carpet Productions, Ladan M Siad of Fugee Films and Rua Wani from Juice and Walnuts Films are also producing. The film’s worldwide rights are still available.
Tahir’s short films include
Sira, which screened at the 2018 Toronto festival. Jude and The Jinn
is one of 16 feature films from emerging filmmakers that were selected for Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program for 2022-2023. Each of the 16 selected features received funding of c$250,000 (currently $183,315).
