Hamoud's spiky, compelling debut feature is an eye-opening portrait of three modern Palestinian-Israeli women. These strong, independent, sexually active women, make the most of living in central Tel Aviv, away from their families and the weight of tradition, even if they still struggle to be true to themselves when confronting the expectations of others.

Equally fluent in Arabic and Hebrew, ultra-chic lawyer Layla and her flat-mate, lesbian DJ Salma, are part of a Palestinian underground scene. Salma adopts another, more submissive persona when visiting her conservative Christian family, who believe that she is an eminently marriageable music teacher. Layla, meanwhile, refuses to compromise on her lifestyle and remains separate from her family.

When good Muslim girl Nour, a hijabi graduate student, takes the third bedroom in Layla and Salma's apartment, Hamoud defies expectations by showing the developing sisterhood between all the roommates. Not only do they have in common the uneasy status of being Arab-Israelis in a predominantly Jewish society, but they share the problem of finding the right, supportive, understanding romantic partner.

Winner: Best Debut, Haifa; NETPAC Award, Toronto

Maysaloun Hamoud – Director (January 14 & 15 only)