Based on the inspiring true story of the Mardini Sisters, director Sally El Husseini’s drama “The Swimmers” will open the 18th Zurich Film Festival on September 22. The film will be premiered in Europe.
The film was produced by Working Title for Netflix. Directed, written by Al Husseini and co-written by Jack Thorne, based on a true story. It follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics of two young sisters, who embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting their hearts and heroic swimming skills to heroic use.
Al-Hussaini will be joined on the show by members Natalie Issa and Matthias Schweigover, along with Sarah and Yosra Mardini, and swimming coach Yosra Sven Spanenkrebs.
“The Bathers are a very moving and timely film about a miraculous journey,” said Christian Jungen, festival artistic director. It highlights the refugee crisis, but is also an inspiration. We can’t imagine a better opening night movie. Sally El Husseini, who has already won her first movie “My Brother the Devil” an award at Sundance, is among the most talented new voices in authors’ cinema.”
The opening ceremony will be attended by the President of the Swiss Federal Council Ignazio Cassis and the Mayor of Zurich Corinne Mauch.
In 2015, after their home was destroyed in the Syrian civil war, the two sisters fled the country as refugees. They made their way to Lebanon and then Turkey, where they arranged to be smuggled into Greece by boat. In the middle of the Aegean, the motor of the boat was cut off. The sisters and others who were able to swim ensured the safety of the passengers. They settled in Germany, where Yusra began training again with coach Sven Spanenkreibs, and went on to compete in the 2016 Olympics as part of the Refugee Olympic Team.
The film stars Natalie Issa, Manal Issa, Schweijofer, Ahmed Malik, James Krishna Floyd, Elmi Rashid Alami, Kinda Alloush and Ali Suleiman. It was produced by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Tube alongside Ali Jafar and Tim Cole, with Stephen Daldry executive producing. The film will be shown on Netflix later this year.
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