Egyptian feature-length documentary Lift Like a Girl will have its world premiere during the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival.
According to the brief released by the filmmaker Mayye Zayed on IMDb, the documentary follows a women’s weightlifting community that train in the streets of Alexandria, focusing on 14-year-old Zebiba as she pursues her dream of becoming a professional weightlifter.
"Her coach Captain Ramadan believes so much in her and never takes no for an answer. He has been training world champion weightlifters for more than 20 years, including his daughter Nahla Ramadan, the former world champion, an Olympian and the pioneer of weightlifting in Egypt, as well as Abeer Abdel Rahman, the first Arab female 2-time Olympic medalist. For 4 years, Zebiba goes through victories and defeats, including major losses that shape her, as she finds her way from dust to gold," the brief reads.
Zayed has previously worked on shorts Iskenderia (2012) and A Stroll Down Sunflower Lane (2016), also writing their scripts.
She was also one of the six directors and scriptwriters of the collaborative production of drama Odet El-Feran (2013).
This year’s Toronto International Film Festival will take place from 10 to 19 September and will showcase over 50 films at physical screenings, drive-in venues, and digital screenings.
According to the festival's organisers, the event will also include virtual red carpets, press conferences, and industry talks.
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