Egyptian director Sameh Alaa's short film I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face to compete at Russian, Belgian festivals

Eslam Omar , Friday 2 Oct 2020

The film is taking part in the ongoing Moscow International Film Festival and Belgium's Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur

Sameh Alaa

Egyptian director Sameh Alaa's last short film Setashar (“I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face”) is competing in two ongoing festivals this week: the Moscow International Film Festival (1-8 October) and Belgium's Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur (2-9 October).

"You can imagine my feeling -- very excited," the Belgium-based director told Ahram Online this week.

I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face also took part in Spain's San Sebastian Film Festival last week.

The film follows youngster Adam on a tough journey to reunite with his lover after 82 days of separation.

"I cannot reveal more about the plot because it is based on a small situation. But I can say it's a road film with a teenager that goes on a journey that changes his life somehow," said Alaa.

Distributed by Wouter Jansen, the short film stars Nourhan Ahmed and Seif Hemeda.

The crew also includes producers Mark Lotfy, Ahmed Pachaa, Ahmed Zayan and Mohab Shehab Eldin, cinematographer Giorgos Valsamis, art director Shaimaa Magdy, editor Yasser Azmy, sound designer Moataz AlQammarii and assistant directors Omar El Halawany, Menna Eldiaby, AbdElrhman Shafik and Ahmed Mahmoud.

I Can Hear Your Voice… Still

The thrilling times continue for Alaa as his upcoming first long feature film I Can Hear Your Voice… Still was shortlisted for the Cairo Film Connection’s seventh edition, as part of the 42nd edition of Cairo International Film Festival next month.

Alaa, who studied German literature and filmmaking techniques at the Academy of Cinema Arts and Technology, worked as an assistant director in various commercials and feature films before moving to Europe in 2012. There he studied directing at FAMU in Prague before moving to Paris for a master’s at EICAR Film School.

In July, Alaa celebrated the online broadcasting of his 2019 acclaimed short film Khamastashar (“Fifteen”).

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

Short link: