Arabic streaming platform Shahid has premiered A House in Jerusalem, the third feature film by Palestinian filmmaker Muayad Alayan.

Making its world debut at the prestigious 2023 International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), A House in Jerusalem has already gained acclaim at various esteemed festivals globally. These include the Boston Palestine Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival in the United States, as well as the Mostra de Valencia—Cinema del Mediterrani in Spain, the Athens Palestine Film Festival in Greece, and the Palestinian Film Festival in Australia.

Significantly, A House in Jerusalem was the only Arab project featured in the 36th edition of the IFFR Pro’s Production Market.

Starring a talented ensemble cast including Johnny Harris, Makran Khoury, Souad Feres, Miley Locke, and Sheherazade Makhoul Farrell, the film tells the poignant story of young Rebecca. She is forced to move with her father from the UK to Jerusalem, seeking comfort and healing after the unexpected loss of her mother.

As Rebecca settles into an old house located in a neighborhood known as the “Valley of the Ghosts,” she becomes entangled in a series of mysterious occurrences, with the blame often falling on her. The film intricately explores the enigmatic nature of the house and the mystical city of Jerusalem, as Rebecca embarks on a captivating quest to unveil the secrets hidden in the shadows.

The production of this film was a collaborative effort involving several key players, including PalCine Productions in Palestine, Wellington Films in the UK, Red Balloon Films in Germany, Metafora Production in Qatar, and Key Film. MAD Solutions is overseeing the distribution across the Arab world.

Moreover, the film has benefited from various development funds, including those from the Doha Film Institute, Netherlands Film Fund, MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, British Film Institute, and the French Consulate General Jerusalem. It also received the Filmmore Postproduction Award and the AFAC’s Cinema Grant.