Paradise City Sales takes Yemen-set ‘The Station’ to Cannes Critics’ week

Paris-based Paradise City Sale has secured global sales rights for Sara Ishaq’s first feature film The Station before its worldwide debut at Cannes Critics’ Week this May.

The movie was one of seven films announced for Cannes Critics’ Week’s competition on Monday, with the parallel section showcasing a total of 11 features in its 65th edition from May 13 to 21.

In this rare Yemen set-drama, the story centers on Layal who manages a women-only gas station, a unique refuge for female patrons in a conflict-ridden region.

Here, the rules are straightforward: no men, no firearms, no politics. When Layal’s younger brother is at risk of conscription, she reconnects with her distant sister to save one precious life.

Ishaq first gained global attention with her Oscar and BAFTA-nominated short documentary Karama Has No Walls (2012).

Her personal documentary, The Mulberry House, premiered at IDFA and was showcased at numerous global festivals.

Co-authored by Ishaq and Nadia Eliewat, The Station underwent an extensive and prominent journey of development and production, earning the top prize for best film in post-production at the Final Cut in Venice program in 2025.

The screenplay is inspired by actual events that Ishaq witnessed in Sanaa, her hometown, where she discovered a women-only gas station, a distinctive place uniting women from various backgrounds, all sharing the goal of supporting their families amidst war.

“The world of The Station embodies what I love about Yemeni society in a fragile utopia, ever-shadowed by chaos outside its walls. It is an imaginative space grounded in Yemen but unrestricted by a specific time or place, and portrayed through an absurd and at times exaggerated parallel reality,” Ishaq explained about the film.

“The Station is less about the war itself and more about its aftermath. At the heart of this film are people, full of complexities, contradictions, and resilience. It is a tribute to the people of Yemen, who have faced years of conflict with grace, humor, and strength.”

Paradise City Sales, previously known as Memento International, has been keenly observing the production's development for quite a while.

“We were thoroughly captivated by The Station, with its distinctive cinematic outlook set in a world rarely depicted on screen. The film finds light amidst darkness, providing a heartwarming narrative of womanhood, family, and perseverance, against profoundly dramatic settings that strike a current chord,” remarked the company.

The film is produced by Screen Project (Jordan), a Ta Films Company headed by Nadia Eliewat, along with Georges Films (France).

Co-producers are One Two Films (Germany), Keplerfilm (Netherlands), Barentsfilm (Norway), Setara Films (Yemen), The Imaginarium Films (Jordan) and SiamFilms (Egypt).

The project is also co-produced with ARTE and ZDF / Das kleine Fernsehspiel, and in partnership with Kalamata Film and Raxicon Private Capital Advisory.

Paradise City Sales’ current lineup also includes post-production films like Titanic Ocean by Konstantina Kotzamani, A Girl’s Story by Judith Godrèche, Baran: Inheritance by Joel Soh, and Love Lessons by Martin Provost.