Sweden’s Academy Award submission for Best Foreign Language Film, acclaimed young director Josef Fares’ semi-autobio-graphical Zozo tracks the title character, a 10 year-old Lebanese boy whose family is fleeing war-ravaged Beirut in the mid-1980s. Orphaned by a mortar round on the day of their scheduled departure, Zozo has no choice but to make the journey to Sweden on his own. Making the transition from Middle Eastern battlefields to the peaceful environs of Scandinavia isn’t easy, but he finds solace in his traveling companions, a teenage girl named Rita and a pet chicken with whom he shares lively, imaginary conversation.

Josef Fares, 29, is, like his Zozo protagonist, a native of Lebanon who emigrated to Sweden in the 1980s, an experience that translated into his frequent exploration of culture clash themes in his movies. He first captured international attention with his ribald 2000 comedy Jalla! Jalla! His 2003 feature Kopps won awards at several international festivals, including Hamburg and Montreal.

Producer: Anna Anthony Screenwriter: Josef Fares Cinematographer: Aril Wretblad Editors: Michal Leszczylowski, Kristin Grundström Music: Adam Nordén Cast: Imad Creidi, Antoinette Turk, Viktor Axelsson