ADHEN-DERNIER MAQUIS (ALG-FR)

Dir: Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche

Ameur-Zaimeche directs and stars in this drama about the owner of a factory in an industrial area outside Paris, who builds a mosque for his workers. The film premiered at Cannes in Directors' Fortnight before screening at Toronto. It has also been shortlisted for France's Louis Delluc Prize.

Int'l sales: Umedia, (33) 6 30 80 31 49

Masquerades (Alg-Fr)

Dir: Lyes Salem

An Algerian villager pretends he has found a suitor for his sister, prompting the village to begin preparations for the non-existent wedding. This drama received the grand prize at France's Festival of African Cinema in November.

Int'l sales: U media, (33) 6 30 80 31 49

Francaise (Fr-Mor)

Dir: Souad El-Bouhati

Hafsia Herzi, who won a most promising actress Cesar award and the Marcello Mastroianni award at Venice for her performance in 2007's Couscous, stars as a North African girl who is forced to return to her father's farm in Morocco. ARP released the film in France in May.

Int'l sales: Wide Management, (33) 1 5395 0465

Dawn Of The World (Iraq-Fr)

Dir: Abbas Fahdel

This romantic drama, also starring Herzi, is set during the Gulf War near the Iraq/Iran border. It premiered at the Pusan International Film Festival.

Int'l sales: Rezo Films, (33) 1 4246 9610

Thirty (Tun)

Dir: Fadhel Jaziri

Thirty charts historical events in Tunisia between 1924-34, focusing on the work of Tunisian reformer Tahar Haddad.

Int'l sales: TBC

Mostefa Ben Boulaid (Alg)

Dir: Ahmed Rachedi

A portrayal of cultural icon and Algerian revolutionary Ben Boulaid. Hassan Kachach, Rachid Fares and Slimane Ben Alissa star.

Contact: Mycene-Balkis Films

Days Of Boredom (Syr)

Dir: Abdellatif Abdelhamid

Four young brothers struggle to survive in 1958, the year when Egypt and Syria tried to forge the United Arab Republic. Days Of Boredom has played at the Cairo and Damascus film festivals.

Contact: National Film Organisation

Salt Of This Sea (Pal)

Dir: Annemarie Jacir

Palestine's entry to this year's foreign-language Oscar is about a Palestinian woman living in Brooklyn who returns to her homeland. It premiered at Cannes and won the special jury prize as well as the Fipresci award at Osian's Cinefan in India. Distributed by Pyramide in France and Liberations Films in Belgium.

Int'l sales: Pyramide International, (33) 1 42 96 0220

I Want To See (Leb)

Dirs: Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige

Another Cannes and Toronto title, this documentary-style film features Catherine Deneuve and well-known Lebanese artist/actor Rabih Mroue as they make a day trip by car from Beirut to see the ruins in South Lebanon left after the Israeli incursion in 2006.

Int'l sales: Films Boutique, (49) 30 8411 0859

Do You Remember Adil' (Mor)

Dir: Mohammed Zineddaine

A Moroccan boy decides to leave his home country to live in Italy and look after his disabled brother. The film played at San Sebastian and was in the official selection at the Marrakesh International Film Festival in November.

Contact: Mohammed Zineddaine, producer

The Aquarium (Egy)

Dir: Yousry Nasrallah

A love story about a woman who hosts a late-night call-in radio show and a hospital worker employed by a seedy abortion clinic. Their paths cross in the aquarium gardens in Cairo. The film premiered at Berlin this year and has played at festivals including Tribeca and San Francisco.

Int'l sales: Sunnyland, (20) 202 2528 3502

Casanegra (Mor) World Premiere

Dir: Nour-Eddine Lakhmari

Casanegra is the story of two poor but ambitious young friends. One dreams of emigrating to Sweden, the other is in love with an unobtainable rich girl.

Contact: Ali Kettani, producer.