The Frank Sinatra of the Arab World

I’ve just started working part-time as a funding & marketing co-ordinator on Papa Hedi for Claire de Lune Films.

Papa Hedi is Claire Belhassine’s first feature as director. She was in her late 20s when she discovered that her grandfather was the Frank Sinatra of the Arab World. Hedi Jouini’s songs and compositions still resonate twenty years after his death. Reprised as the theme tune for a popular Tunisian soap opera and the holding music for Tunisia’s leading mobile network; covered by pop singers, including international superstar Shakira; and sung by 5 year old street kids as they kick footballs in the streets – they are part of the Tunisian story.

After his death, Hedi Jouini’s six children stopped talking to each other. Behind the usual story of siblings fighting over their inheritance, lies the powerful dynamic of men’s and women’s roles in 1930’s Tunis and the sad but often funny story of Papa Hedi’s divided family – separated across continents, fighting over royalties, competing to define their father’s legacy.

There is currently a TV version of the documentary, Papa Hedi: the Search for My Grandfather which has already been sold to France Televisions.

I am working on a festival strategy, promotion and sales for the short version of the doc, while also raising funds for the feature version, which we hope to start working on in early 2013.

Link:
Papa Hedi website
Papa Hedi Twitter feed
Papa Hedi Facebook page