THE SWIMMERS
Narrative Feature | 134 minutes

HIFF 2022

 Conflict & Resolution

Directed by
Sally El Hosaini

Produced by
Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tim Cole, Ali Jaafar

Executive Producer
Stephen Daldry

Written by
Jack Thorne, Sally El Hosaini

Featuring
Manal Issa, Nathalie Issa, Matthias Schweighöfer, Ahmed Malek, James Krishna Floyd, Kinda Alloush, Ali Suliman

US Premiere

2022 | English/Arabic | UK

Based on a true story, renowned director Sally El Hosaini’s electric new feature THE SWIMMERS is a deeply moving exploration of Europe’s refugee crisis, the bonds of family, and the resilience needed to pursue one’s dreams. Set in the midst of the Syrian Civil War, star swimmers Yusra and Sara Mardini (real-life sisters Manal and Nathalie Issa) must flee their war-torn home in a desperate attempt to train in Germany for the 2016 Rio Olympics. As asylum seekers, they face monumental obstacles together, traveling across oceans and borders as they contend with their differences while trying to stay true to themselves. A Netflix release.