6 Arab short films competing in GFF 2020 with very compelling storylines.
With the fourth edition of El Gouna Film Festival currently in progress, we thought we’d share with you the Arab films competing in the 2020 Short films competition.
Their plot lines are quite compelling and we’re proud to see such great masterpieces being appreciated and nominated.
I AM AFRAID TO FORGET YOUR FACE
This short film follows Adam, who—after being separated for 82 days—decides to venture a rough road to be reunited with the one he loves. The coming-of-age story tackles several social issues and the challenges faced by youth. It is the first Egyptian film to be selected for the Official Short Film Competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 50 years.
Film Info:
Year:2020
Length:15 min
Language: Arabic
Country: Egypt, France, Belgium
Director: Sameh Alaa
Screenplay:Sameh Alaa
Cinematography: Giorgos Valsamis
Editing: Yasser Azmy
Producer: Muhammad Taymour, Martin Jérôme
Production Company: Les Cigognes Films, Fig Leaf Studios
Sound: Moataz Al Qammari, Sameh Nabil
Cast: Seif Hemeda, Nourhan Ahmed
THE OTHER CHEEK
When Nashaat’s daughter is viciously attacked by his neighbors’ dog, he is aggrieved to hear claims that she provoked the attack. Unreconciled emotions lead to a heated confrontation with his ex- wife, leaving the cornered father with no choice but to take out frustrations on the perpetrator.
Year: 2020
Length: 11 min
Language: Arabic
Country: Egypt
Director: Sandro Canaan
Screenplay:Sandro Canaan
Cinematography: Guido Raimondo
Editing: Nancy Fares
Producer: Kawthar Younis
Production Company: Two Stories Productions
Sound: Cedric Kayem
Cast: Tarek Abd El Aziz, Dora Youssef, Mohiy Dorgham
ROADBLOCK
Beirut 2019, during the revolution. On her way back from a protest, Farah, a Lebanese activist, and her French-Lebanese boyfriend Anthony are stopped at a roadblock held by two armed militiamen who have a bone to pick with Farah.
Year: 2020
Length: 16 min
Language: Arabic, French
Country: Lebanon
Director: Dahlia Nemlich
Screenplay: Pascale Seigneurie
Cinematography: Fatma Racha Shehadeh
Music: Zeid Hamdan
Editing: Adam Jammal
Producer: Marine Vaillant, Zayn Alexander
Production Company: Dewberries
Sound: Nadim Maalouf
Cast: Ahmed Hammadi Chassin, Julian Farhat, Pascale Seigneurie, Mohamad Yassine
SHAKWA
In present-day Beirut, Hoda secretly goes to report a crime her husband committed, but she is faced with unexpected consequences.
Year: 2020
Length: 14 min
Language: Arabic
Country: Lebanon, Jordan
Director: Farah Shaer
Screenplay: Farah Shaer
Cinematography: Julien Kai
Editing: Farah Shaer
Producer: Lucien Bourjeily
Sound: Haitham Atme
Cast: Vanessa Mghames, Jean Paul Hage, Hussein Hijazi
OBVIOUS OFFSIDE
A winter night. A crucial match: two countries compete for the only qualifying ticket for the FIFA world cup. A man drives his car through deserted streets. Two policemen on patrol listen to the game on their car radio, until the transmission is interrupted.
Year: 2020
Length: 20 min
Language: Arabic
Country: Tunisia
Director: Sami Tilili
Screenplay: Sami Tilili
Cinematography: Hatem Nechi
Editing: Malek Chatta
Producer: Imed Marzouk
Production Company: Propaganda Production
Cast: Majd Mastoura
THE BATH
Imed, a young father, finding himself alone for a few days with his five year old son due to his wife’s business trip, will have to confront his deepest fear.
Year: 2020
Length: 15 min
Language: Arabic
Country: Tunisia, France
Director: Anissa Daoud
Screenplay: Anissa Daoud
Cinematography: Hazem Berrabah
Music: Jawhar Basti, Jean-Charles Bastion
Editing: Malek Chatta
Producer: Lotfi Achour, Sébastien Hussenot, Anissa Daoud
Production Company: The Artistes Producteurs Associés (A.P.A.), La Luna Productions
Sound: Romain Poirier
Cast: Mohamed Dahech, Sami Khelifi