EXCLUSIVE: Canadian distributor APL Film has acquired the international distribution rights to the drama from Canadian-British writer-director Shamim Sarif polarizeda love story between two women separated by race and religion.

The film will be screened as part of Telefilm Canada’s Perspective Canada selection.

Holly Deveaux plays a white farm worker who is fired for racism and then falls in love with her Palestinian boss, played by Maxine Denis.

“I love pushing the boundaries of queer women of color representation,” Zarif said. “With polarizedI think this is one of the first times in cinema that we see on screen Palestinian immigrants who are successful, who drive scientific innovation and, in the case of co-star Dalia, who are also queer.

The filmmaker said she was inspired by her own experience and that of his Palestinian-born wife and producer Hanan Kattan.

“I grew up in a South Asian Muslim family, so these specific immigrant experiences are very familiar to us. We know firsthand the challenges and taboos that exist in Eastern and Muslim cultures when it comes to being queer,” she explained.

polarized is Sarif’s fifth feature film, including previous credits Despite the falling snow.

Kattan produces under the Enlightenment Productions banner with Juliette Hagopian of Juliette Inc.

The film was shot on the Manitoba prairie with support from the Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, Radio-Canada, Manitoba Film & Music and Creative Europe Media, as well as regional tax incentives.

Zarif said the background is integral to the story and its characters.

“I wanted a rural world where time passes more slowly and where there is a sense of isolation and emptiness where the little moments, touches and smiles could have a bigger impact on our characters,” he said. she declared.

Other cast members include Tara Samuel and Adam Hurtig, Hesham Hammoud, Abraham Asto, and Baraka Rahmani.

Camera by Greg Nicod and arabesque music by Kevon Cronin.

Sarif will be represented by Dave Brown of Echo Lake Entertainment.

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