Born in Dubai, Mahdi Fleifel lives and works between Denmark, England and Greece. A graduate of the UK’s National Film & Television School, he studied Fiction Directing under Stephen Frears and Pawel Pawlikowski. In 2010 he founded the London based production company Nakba FilmWorks with Irish producer Patrick Campbell. Fleifel’s critically acclaimed debut feature, A WORLD NOT OURS, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and received over 30 awards, including the Berlinale Peace Prize, and the Edinburgh, Yamagata and DOC:NYC Grand Jury Prizes. He was named Best New Nordic Voice at Nordisk Panorama, and received the New Talent Award at CPH:DOX in 2013.
In 2016 Fleifel won a Silver Bear for A MAN RETURNED. His follow up, A DROWNING MAN, was selected in the Official Competition at Cannes, and was nominated for a BAFTA. His last film, I SIGNED THE PETITION, won Best Documentary Short at IDFA and was nominated for the 2018 European Film Awards.
Education
2007 - 2009 The National Film and Television School, England
Masters of arts degree
2005 - 2006 Royal Holloway, University of London
Masters of arts degree
2000 - 2003 University of Wales, Newport
Bachelor’s degree
1999 - 2000 The Media School Rampen, Copenhagen
Film Diploma
1995 - 1998 Helsingør Gymnasium, Elsinore
Danish Baccalaureate
Experience /awards
2013
Invited to the Cannes Film Festival’s Cinefondation residence.
2010
Honorable Mention - The San Francisco Film Society for the Djerassi Residency
Award/SFFS Screenwriting Fellowship
2009
The Bahrain Film Company’s Development Award for the feature film project ‘The
Making Of” – The Dubai International Film Festival
2006
Jury member - Roshd International Film Festival, Iran
2005
Jury member - Magma International Short Film Festival, Sicily
Awards and screenings for A world not ours:
2013
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2013 - Official Selection
Berlinale Panorama 2013 – Peace Film Award, Third Audience Award
Int Doc Film Festival of Navarra “Punto de Vista” 2013 - Audience Award
2012
Toronto International Film Festival 2012 – Official Selection
Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2012 – Black Pearl, Fipresci Award, Netpac Award
CPH:Dox 2012 – Official Selection
Awards for Arafat & I:
2009
18th Visionaria Int. Toscana Film Festival 2009 – jury prize & great visionary prize
Iasi International Film Festival, Romania 2009 – special mention of the jury
Short Movie Festival Potenza, Italy 2009 – best film
Houston Palestine Film Festival, USA 2009 – audience award
2008
Pisek Int. Student Film Festival, Czech Republic 2008 - best fiction
Awards for Hamoudi & Emil:
2005
NY Int Independent Film & Video Fest 2005 – best int. short film
Filmstock International Film Festival, UK 2005 - audience award
Auburn Int. Film Fest for Children, Australia 2005 -Tadgell’s Bluebell Honor
Chicago International REEL Shorts Festival 2005 - best foreign film
Short Soup International Short Film Festival, Australia 2005 - first price
Awards for Shadi in the beautiful well:
2005
Visionaria Int. Film and Video Festival, Italy 2005 – best fiction & audience prize
2004
Celtic Film & Television Festival 2004 – best short drama
Ivy Film Festival, Rhode Island 2004 – best international short film
Reel Talent Competition, Arts Institute Bournemouth 2004 – 1st place
Action/Cut Short Film Competition, USA 2004 - best foreign short film
Auburn Int. Film Festival for Children, Australia 2004 -Tadgell’s Bluebell Honor
Magma International Short Film Festival, Sicily 2004 - best narrative short
2003
International Film School of Wales 2003 – best graduation film
Student Moving Image Fest, Wales 2003 – best fiction, best director, best of fest
Cardiff International Screen Festival 2003 – DM Davies Award
Filmography
2020
3 Logical Exits (short film)
2018
I Signed the Petition (short film)
2017
A Drowning Man (short film)
2016
A Man Returned (short film)
2015
20 Handshakes for Peace (short film)
2014
Xenos (short film)
2012
Xenos (feature film in development) – writer/director
Visit Palestine (video installation for Koh-i-noor Gallery in Copenhagen)
A World Not Ours (documentary feature)
2009
Four Weeks (17 min. fiction) – writer/director
2008
Arafat & I (15 min. fiction) – writer/director/actor
2007
The Writer (7 min. fiction) – writer/director/actor
2006
Harrisons Monday’s Arms (music promo) – writer/director
2004
Hamoudi & Emil (23 min. fiction) – writer/director/producer
2003
Shadi In The Beautiful Well (12 min. fiction) - writer/director/producer
Mahdi Fleifel
Born in Dubai, Mahdi Fleifel lives and works between Denmark, England and Greece. A graduate of the UK’s National Film & Television School, he studied Fiction Directing under Stephen Frears and Pawel Pawlikowski. In 2010 he founded the London based production company Nakba FilmWorks with Irish producer Patrick Campbell. Fleifel’s critically acclaimed debut feature, A WORLD NOT OURS, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and received over 30 awards, including the Berlinale Peace Prize, and the Edinburgh, Yamagata and DOC:NYC Grand Jury Prizes. He was named Best New Nordic Voice at Nordisk Panorama, and received the New Talent Award at CPH:DOX in 2013.In 2016 Fleifel won a Silver Bear for A MAN RETURNED. His follow up, A DROWNING MAN, was selected in the Official Competition at Cannes, and was nominated for a BAFTA. His last film, I SIGNED THE PETITION, won Best Documentary Short at IDFA and was nominated for the 2018 European Film Awards.Education2007 - 2009 The National Film and Television School, EnglandMasters of arts degree2005 - 2006 Royal Holloway, University of LondonMasters of arts degree2000 - 2003 University of Wales, NewportBachelor’s degree1999 - 2000 The Media School Rampen, CopenhagenFilm Diploma1995 - 1998 Helsingør Gymnasium, ElsinoreDanish BaccalaureateExperience /awards2013Invited to the Cannes Film Festival’s Cinefondation residence.2010Honorable Mention - The San Francisco Film Society for the Djerassi ResidencyAward/SFFS Screenwriting Fellowship2009The Bahrain Film Company’s Development Award for the feature film project ‘TheMaking Of” – The Dubai International Film Festival2006Jury member - Roshd International Film Festival, Iran2005Jury member - Magma International Short Film Festival, SicilyAwards and screenings for A world not ours:2013Palm Springs International Film Festival 2013 - Official SelectionBerlinale Panorama 2013 – Peace Film Award, Third Audience AwardInt Doc Film Festival of Navarra “Punto de Vista” 2013 - Audience Award2012Toronto International Film Festival 2012 – Official SelectionAbu Dhabi Film Festival 2012 – Black Pearl, Fipresci Award, Netpac AwardCPH:Dox 2012 – Official SelectionAwards for Arafat & I:200918th Visionaria Int. Toscana Film Festival 2009 – jury prize & great visionary prizeIasi International Film Festival, Romania 2009 – special mention of the juryShort Movie Festival Potenza, Italy 2009 – best filmHouston Palestine Film Festival, USA 2009 – audience award2008Pisek Int. Student Film Festival, Czech Republic 2008 - best fictionAwards for Hamoudi & Emil:2005NY Int Independent Film & Video Fest 2005 – best int. short filmFilmstock International Film Festival, UK 2005 - audience awardAuburn Int. Film Fest for Children, Australia 2005 -Tadgell’s Bluebell HonorChicago International REEL Shorts Festival 2005 - best foreign filmShort Soup International Short Film Festival, Australia 2005 - first priceAwards for Shadi in the beautiful well:2005Visionaria Int. Film and Video Festival, Italy 2005 – best fiction & audience prize2004Celtic Film & Television Festival 2004 – best short dramaIvy Film Festival, Rhode Island 2004 – best international short filmReel Talent Competition, Arts Institute Bournemouth 2004 – 1st placeAction/Cut Short Film Competition, USA 2004 - best foreign short filmAuburn Int. Film Festival for Children, Australia 2004 -Tadgell’s Bluebell HonorMagma International Short Film Festival, Sicily 2004 - best narrative short2003International Film School of Wales 2003 – best graduation filmStudent Moving Image Fest, Wales 2003 – best fiction, best director, best of festCardiff International Screen Festival 2003 – DM Davies AwardFilmography2020 3 Logical Exits (short film)2018 I Signed the Petition (short film)2017 A Drowning Man (short film)2016 A Man Returned (short film)2015 20 Handshakes for Peace (short film)2014 Xenos (short film)2012Xenos (feature film in development) – writer/directorVisit Palestine (video installation for Koh-i-noor Gallery in Copenhagen)A World Not Ours (documentary feature)2009Four Weeks (17 min. fiction) – writer/director2008Arafat & I (15 min. fiction) – writer/director/actor2007The Writer (7 min. fiction) – writer/director/actor2006Harrisons Monday’s Arms (music promo) – writer/director2004Hamoudi & Emil (23 min. fiction) – writer/director/producer2003Shadi In The Beautiful Well (12 min. fiction) - writer/director/producer