Egyptian short film Sttashar (I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face), directed by Sameh Alaa, will have its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) premiere on Sunday in the Red Sea city of Hurghada during the third day of El-Gouna Film Festival.

"We are so excited for the screening and your feedback," said the director ahead of the screening.

Earlier this month, the film won the first special mention in Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur of Belgium and the Silver St. George at the Moscow International Film Festival, as well as an honourable representation at Spain's San Sebastian Film Festival.

Sttashar follows youngster Adam on a tough journey to reunite with his lover after 82 days of separation. The film, distributed by Wouter Jansen, stars Nourhan Ahmed and Seif Hemeida.

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 Al-Qammari and assistant directors Omar El-Halawany, Menna Eldiaby, Abdel-Rahman Shafik and Ahmed Mahmoud.

The Cannes short film competition, which culminates in the jury awarding the Short Film Palme d’Or, will take place next autumn at the Palais des festivals in Cannes.

The event was cancelled this year due to COVID-19. This was the competition’s second cancellation since 1939.

The fourth edition of El-Gouna Film Festival, taking place from 23 to 31 October, holds many of its activities in outdoor venues, including the opening and closing ceremonies, amid the "challenging circumstances” of the coronavirus pandemic.

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