Success continues for award-winning Egyptian director Morad Mostafa as his two short films, What We Don't Know About Mariam and Henet Ward, have been both selected for the official competition at the Czech Republic's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF), taking place from 20 to 28 August.

"I am very happy my two films are screening and competing at the same contest in Prague," Mostafa told Ahram Online Monday, while also thanking his crew, distributors and the festival's organizers.

Last week, Mostafa received France's Les Nuts Mediterranean Film Festival's Critics Award (Prix de la Critiques) for his second short What We Don't Know About Mariam, two months after winning the Bronze Prize for the best short film at the 23rd Mecal International Short Film Festival of Barcelona.

What We Don't Know About Mariam premiered at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France in February. It has also competed at the Buenos Aires International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films, Valencia International Film Festival and Prague International Film Festival.

Produced by Sherif El-Bendary, the film tells the story of Mariam (Doaa Ereikat), who goes to hospital with her husband and daughter after suffering from a severe pain in her abdomen and vaginal bleeding. After a medical test, tensions escalate between Mariam and her husband.

"The journey of my second film is very fulfilling since its premier at Clermont-Ferrand; it's the world's most important festival for short films," Mostafa expressed to Ahram Online.

Mostafa's debut short film Henet Ward, also premiered at Clermont-Ferrand last year, has been screened in over 120 festivals across the globe, winning over 18 awards, including Oscar and BAFTA qualifying awards.

Mostafa, who is preparing his third film, has previously worked as assistant director for many important names, including Hala Khalil, Sherif El-Bendary, Mohamed Diab, and Ayten Amin in her 2020-Cannes-selected feature Souad.

'What We Don't Know About Mariam' is following the success Mostafa's debut 'Henet Ward'

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