Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep

Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep
Arabicالبارح العين ما نامت
Directed byRakan Mayasi
Written by
  • Rakan Mayasi
  • Wahid Ajmi
Produced by
  • Jennifer Ritter
  • Rakan Mayasi
Starring
  • Rim Al Mawla
  • Jawaher Al Mawla
  • Yasser Al Mawla
CinematographyPôl Seif
Edited byLouis De Schrijver
Music byAbed Kobeissy
Production
company
Atata
Release date
  • 20 May 2026 (2026-05-20) (Cannes)
Running time
100 minutes
Countries
  • Belgium
  • Lebanon
  • Palestine
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
LanguageArabic

Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep (Arabic: البارح العين ما نامت) is a 2026 drama film directed and produced by Rakan Mayasi, in his directorial debut. It stars Rim, Jawaher, and Yasser Al Mawla. It is an international co-production of Belgium, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

The film had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 20 May, where it was nominated for the Caméra d'Or.

Premise

Set against the backdrop of the Lebanon–Syria border, it follows a man who accidentally kills a member of a rival clan while searching for his missing cousin, leading to his sisters being traded to preserve peace.[1]

Cast

  • Rim Al Mawla as Rim
  • Jawaher Al Mawla as Jawaher
  • Yasser Al Mawla as Yasser

Production

In an interview with IndieWire, Mayasi revealed that Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep was filmed without a script in March 2025 and featured the real-life Al Mawla family. He further stated that the film was inspired by his late grandmother's forced marriage.[2] In July 2025, the project was selected to participate at the Final Cut programme, held during the Venice Film Festival.[3] It received film music services from Oticons.[4] In August 2025, it participated at the Work in Progress section of the Sarajevo Film Festival's CineLink Industry Days and won the Turkish National Radio Television award.[5][6] It won the Special Mention of 2025 Red Sea Souk Post-Production Award and received a grant of $15,000.[7]

Release

Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 20 May, where it was nominated for the Caméra d'Or.[8] In April 2026, Salaud Morisset acquired the film's international sales.[9]

The film was also part of Horizons section of the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was screened from 3 July to 10 July 2026.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep". Salaud Morisset. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  2. ↑ Mehta, Ritesh (19 May 2026). "The Only Palestinian Filmmaker in Cannes' Official Selection Made His Debut Without a Script — and with a Real Bedouin Family". IndieWire. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  3. ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (14 July 2025). "Final Cut In Venice: New Features By Mamadou Dia & Sara Ishaq Unveiled In Eight-Picture Selection". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Balaga, Marta (2 September 2025). "'Resilience, Sisterhood and Survival': Sara Ishaq's 'The Station,' About Women-Only Petrol Station, Leads Venice's Final Cut Winners". Variety. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  5. ↑ Petkovic, Vladan (4 August 2025). "Sarajevo's CineLink reveals its Work in Progress selection". Cineuropa. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  6. ↑ Dalton, Ben (22 August 2025). "Sarajevo's CineLink reveals 2025 industry winners including Hungary's 'Places Half Empty'". Screen International. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  7. ↑ Ntim, Zac (10 December 2025). "'About Love & September Laws,' The Next Feature From 'Goodbye Julia' Filmmaker Mohamed Kordofani, Among Red Sea Souk Award Winners". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "Cannes Film Festival 2026 lineup guide: Un Certain Regard titles". Screen International. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  9. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (21 April 2025). "Lebanon-Set 'Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep' Boarded by Salaud Morisset Ahead of Premiere in Un Certain Regard at Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep Horizons". Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. 20 June 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
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