London-based Tunisian actor, director and former professional footballer Derfer Rabidin has been active in film and television in both the Arab and Western worlds for many years. He starred in the popular Tunisian TV series “Maktoub” and has also appeared in Alfonso Cuaron’s “Children of Men,” “Sex and the City 2” and Damien Chazelle’s French Netflix series “The Eddy.”
Rabidin is currently attending the inaugural Doha Film Festival in Qatar, serving as a competition juror and as part of the cast of Annemarie Jacir’s historical drama Palestine 36, which will be screened as a special screening. In “Palestine 36,” Rabidine plays a wealthy newspaper publisher named Amir who navigates the escalating tensions caused by the increasing number of Jewish immigrants to Palestine in 1936, tensions that sparked a mass uprising against British colonial rule.
Below, Rabidin talks to Variety about his stay in Doha, his latest directorial work “Sophia” following “Godwa” and “To My Son,” in which he stars opposite Jessica Brown Findlay (“Downton Abbey”).
Please tell us about your participation in “Palestine 36”. Of course, it’s a very timely film.
I was honored to be invited to be in it because it’s a Palestinian film and I’m Tunisian. This is a story that has affected not only the future of Palestine, but the entire region. Not many people know what happened between 1936 and 1939. We don’t learn about it in Western or Middle Eastern history classes either. We all watch the news and know what’s going on, but films like Palestine 36 create empathy and connection to what happened there. That’s the importance of this movie.
What do you think viewers of “Palestine 36” will most relate to?
Some may think that this is no man’s land. No, Palestinians have lived there for thousands of years. This was a prosperous land with agriculture and wealthy people. The film depicts the upper, middle and working classes of Palestine and the huge culture that has existed there for centuries. So that’s just the beginning of the story. But I think it’s very important that this movie was made.
Please tell us about being selected as a member of the jury for the first Doha Film Festival.
When the Doha/Tribeca Film Festival started a few years ago, it was such a breath of fresh air for the region because it brought quality and great ambition. That’s it. And now, I’m very happy and proud that (the authentic Doha Festival) is coming back. The truth is that the Doha Film Institute (DFI) continued even after the first festival ended. They have worked on so many films that have entered festivals and supported new talent. But now I think DFI needs this platform too, and I’m really proud to be a part of it and to be one of the first members of the jury for this inaugural edition. As for Qatar, it has been a voice for peace and has tried to resolve so many types of conflicts that are happening around the world, not only the Palestinian issue of course, but also the Ukrainian issue. Similarly, I think the festival’s aspirations are human. It’s not just about business. It is about understanding each other and opening channels where culturally East and West can understand each other.
Come to think of it, you just directed your third feature titled “Sofia” which aims to do just that. am I right?
yes. “Sofia” is a story that takes place between England and Tunisia. It’s about an estranged interracial couple who have a young daughter and haven’t seen each other in over six years. When his wife Emily arrives in Tunisia to introduce her daughter to her father, the daughter disappears. The story begins from there. It’s a thriller. We wanted something that everyone could relate to, whether Westerners or Middle Easterners, Christians or Muslims. I wanted a human story. I tried to make a heart-warming thriller. You’ll discover more about them, their culture, misconceptions, and prejudices. I think it was really important for me to actually cross that bridge in the third movie. I myself am married to a British woman and have lived in the UK for many years. I thought there were so many untold stories that could make us sit in a movie theater and make everyone feel just as connected.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
