BYE BYE TIBERIAS by Lina Soualem Secures UK and Ireland Distribution With TAPE
We’re thrilled to share that T A P E collective has acquired the rights to Lina Soualem’s poignant feature documentary BYE BYE TIBERIAS for UK and Ireland release. The film will preview across the UK as part of SAFAR Film Festival in June 2024 ahead of its 28th June release.
Founded by Isra Al Kassi and Angela Moneke in 2015 to curate screening events which respond to the lack of representation on screen – T A P E’s mission remains to support under-served titles, with a focus on representation, identity and heritage, to find new audiences, create conversations and collaborations across the creative sector, through theatrical distribution.
T A P E co-founder Isra Al Kassi said “We’re excited to see the international and well-deserved success for Bye Bye Tiberias. Lina Soualem doesn’t shy away from sharing so much of herself and her family, and we’re grateful to be part of the journey. As programmers and distributors who often work with mixed-heritage stories, and the idea of returning to home, we are exceptionally blown away by the magical way in which Lina weaves her family’s history in this documentary.”
T A P E’s previous UK releases include Miryam Charles’ feature debut CETTE MAISON, SHABU by Shamira Rapahela and twice BIFA winner IF THE STREETS WERE ON FIRE directed by Alice Russell.
We are so proud of the continued success Bye Bye Tiberias has had internationally and are looking forward to it reaching an even broader audience. After the World Premiere in Venice at Giornate degli Autori in 2023, followed by its North American premiere in Toronto International Film Festival, it has played in numerous international festivals including DOC NYC, IDFA, RIDM, Palm Springs International Film Festival and is currently having a theatrical release in the US, Canada and France.
“We are delighted to partner with T A P E in bringing Bye Bye Tiberias to audiences across the UK and Ireland. Lina Soualem’s incisive and engaging film holds a mirror to our shared humanity, and we are confident that our collaboration with T A P E, a collective dedicated to celebrating important but often marginalized stories, will ensure its reach and resonance with viewers, sparking much needed conversations and leaving a lasting impact,” comments Bojana Marić, Head of Acquisitions at Lightdox.
Bye Bye Tiberias had its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival where it won the Grierson Award in the Documentary Competition.
In addition to being the Palestinian Oscar entry and receiving a nomination for Best Documentary at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the film has received multiple awards, including a shared Jury Prize at the Marrakech International Film Festival and most recently the Best Feature Documentary Award and the Audience Award at Antenna Documentary Film Festival.
Bye Bye Tiberias is produced by Jean-Marie Nizan of French company Beall Productions, in coproduction with Altitude 100 Production and Philistine Films, Tala Corp. and Edmond Production, in association with Arte France – La Lucarne.
The film is made with the support of Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée, Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Tax shelter du gouvernement fédéral de Belgique, Inver Tax Shelter, Doha Film Institute, and The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture.