ELAHA is a young woman who spends each day fighting for some autonomy on the battleground of the patriarchy. The unconditional love for her family gives her strength and at the same time makes her vulnerable. What remains is a relentless urge for self-determination.“ ”
"A heartfelt and courageous performance from 28-year-old Syrian-born actor Bayan Layla”
"A sexually candid, seriously intentioned film about what really matters to young women like Elaha"
THE GUARDIAN
"A coherent, consistently implemented color concept, impressive camera work, especially in the long uncut opening scene, testify to the fact that Elaha is not just a thematic film, but an all-around well-crafted piece of cinematic art.”
FILM LÖWIN
"Stylistically, ELAHA moves along conventional lines, but convinces with characters that seem authentic, pointed dialogues and, above all, a differentiated view of its subject matter."
TAZ
“A nuanced portrait.”
ARTE TV
"…ELAHA, one of the strongest films of this year’s Berlinale"
RADIOEINS
Synopsis
Elaha is a young Kurdish-German woman torn between the unconditional love for her family and her own aspirations in life. Although she cares most about having a good time with her girlfriends and taking care of her younger brother, she has to fight patriarchy while being the perfect daughter. Ultimately, she has to make a decision: To tell the truth or live a life in grand delusion. A psychological journey about emancipation that reveals that only by facing reality, we can be true to ourselves.
Film gallery
Details
Director: Milena Aboyan
Genre: Drama
Tags: Emancipation, Family, Traditions, Patriarchy, Empowerment
Original title: Elaha
English title: Elaha
Country of production: Germany
Year of production: 2023
Length: 110
Color: Color
Shooting format: 4K
Screening format: DCP 2K
Original language: German, Kurdish
Subtitles: English
Cast: Bayan Layla, Derya Durmaz, Nazmi Kirik, Armin Wahedi, Derya Dilber, Cansu Dogan (Leyan), Beritan Balci, Slavko Popadić, Hadnet Tesfai, Homa Faghiri, Rebér Ibrahims
Scriptwriter: Milena Aboyan, Constantin Hatz
Director of photography: Christopher Behrmann
Production designer: Nora Balmer, Christina Mammes
Editor: Elias Engelhardt
Sound design: Perschya Chehrazi
Sound mixing: Perschya Chehrazi
Music: Kilian Oser
Producers: Matthias Greving, Igor Dovgal, Executive Producer: Kirsten Lukaczik, Creative Producers: Emina Smajić, Janina Sara Hennemann
Production company: Kinescope Film GmbH in cooperation with Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in coproduction with Essence Film SWR/Arte
Supported by: MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg mbH, Nordmedia – Film- und Mediengesellschaft Niedersachsen/Bremen mbH
Film poster
Festivals / Awards
Berlinale - Perspektive Deutsches Kino - World Premiere
Lichter Film Fest Frankfurt, Germany - Audience Award
Internationalen Studierendenfilmfestival Sehsüchte, Germany
Crossing Europe, Austria - Special Mention in Section „YAAAS!“
Sprouts FF, The Netherlands
IFF Emden-Norderney, Germany - Norderneyer Engel 2023, NDR Film Prize for Young Talent, DGB-Filmpreis
Sydney FF, Australia
Youth FF Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Giffoni FF, Italy
MICGénero, Mexico
World Cinema Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Fünf Seen FF, Germany - Perspektive Junges Kino
Heimat Europa Filmfestspiele, Germany
Elbe Dock, Czech Republic
Bucharest Feminist FF, Romania
Calgary IFF, Canada
Festival Du Cinéma Allemand, France
First Steps Award, Germany - Götz George Young Talent Award
Riga IFF, Latvia
Cinecitta IFF Tilburg, Netherlands
Cine por mujeres, Spain
Jakarta Film Week, Indonesia
Kurdisches FF Berlin, Germany
Unabhängiges Filmfest Osnabrück, Germany
Berlin Filmfest Frauenwelten, Germany
Kinofest Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, New Zealand
Arras FF, France
Festival Univerciné Allemand, France
International Crime and Punishment FF, Turkey
Solidarity Human Rights FF, Israel
Prix Europa Awards, Germany - Best Feature Film
Augenblick, France
Televisionale Baden-Baden - MFG-Star for Best Young Director
Duhok IFF, Iraq
Sottodiciotto FF, Italy - Special Mention (Bayan Layla)
Les Arcs FF, France
Pune IFF, India
Festival International du Film Politique, France
Angers Premiers Plans FF, France - Scania Diversity Award
Filmfestival des deutschen Films, Switzerland
The Bavarian Film Awards - Best Young Actress
Glasgow FF, UK
IFF Mons, Belgium
IFF of Ottawa, Canada
Festival del Cinema tedesco Roma, Italy
Filmfestival MOOOV, Belgium
Cleveland IFF, USA
Minneapolis St Paul IFF, USA
Amsterdam Kurdish FF, Netherlands - Best Feature Fiction Award
European FF, Sierra Leone
Related
New Acquisition: Elaha World Premiere @ Berlinale
We are happy to announce our new acquisition ELAHA by Milena Aboyan. This empowering film will have its world premiere in the Berlinale Perspektive Deutsches Kino section. See the screening…
08.02.2023
