Ghassan Salhab, a renowned Lebanese filmmaker, has recently sold the worldwide rights to his upcoming project “The Last City” to Mad World, a sales company based in Dubai. The film is set in a collapsing Beirut that has been overrun by vampires. Salhab, known for his arthouse films such as “Terra Incognita,” “The Last Man,” “The Mountain,” and “The Valley,” is considered a standout director in Lebanon and has premiered his works at prestigious festivals like Cannes, Berlin, Locarno, and Toronto.
“The Last City” follows the narrative of five non-consecutive nights that revisit the final weeks of Beirut, which is now controlled by vampires searching for rare victims. The film is described as a sequel to Salhab’s “The Last Man,” where a medical examiner turns into a vampire and disappears into the night. Salhab explained that more vampires have emerged over the years, further dividing the city of Beirut into fragments.
Produced by Tania El-Khoury in Lebanon, “The Last City” is a co-production between Khamsin Films and Les Films de l’Altaï in France. It has received support from organizations like the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, CNC, and the indie company Mad Solutions in Cairo, which has recently expanded into film sales with the launch of Mad World at Cannes.
Mad World’s co-presidents, Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, aim to showcase Arab filmmaking talent and unique stories on the global stage. They are excited to collaborate with filmmakers like Ghassan Salhab, who has created a diverse range of films over the past 25 years. Salhab’s “The Last City” promises to immerse viewers in a haunting journey through a city transformed by vampires and internal division.
With its acquisition of “The Last City,” Mad World continues to expand its portfolio of unique Arab films that challenge traditional storytelling conventions and push boundaries.
