Odd Slice Films, a specialty distribution company, has secured global rights to the documentary “Concrete Land,” marking the directorial debut of filmmaker Asmahan Bkerat. The film is slated to premiere at the Locarno Film Festival’s Semaine de la Critique section. The project represents eight years of production work and examines the experience of one of the final Afro-Palestinian Bedouin families residing near Amman, Jordan.
The documentary centers on the Najar family as they contend with the encroachment of modern development on their traditional agricultural lands. Forced to relinquish livestock and facing potential displacement, the family works to maintain their cultural heritage. The narrative also follows Eman, the family’s 10-year-old daughter, as she confronts school-based discrimination while aspiring to forge a future that honors her origins and background.
Bkerat explained that the film emerged from witnessing the threats confronting the Najar family and the destruction of their ancestral lands, motivating her to document their story and preserve their legacy. Multiple international organizations supported the production, including the IDFA Bertha Fund, Sundance Documentary Fund, and the Doha Film Institute. Martina Droandi, founder of Odd Slice Films, noted that she has monitored the project’s development since 2021 and was drawn to its emotional depth and exploration of how urbanization affects marginalized communities.
Originally reported by Variety →
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