Mohamed Hefzy’s Films That Made Waves at International Festivals
Mohamed Hefzy has helped bring regional cinema to the world stage, producing and co-producing films that have earned spots at some of the biggest international film festivals. Through his production company, Film Clinic, he has backed stories that travel beyond borders, from intimate coming-of-age dramas to films tackling identity, belonging, and life in Egypt.
With Hefzy’s career set to be honored at the Arab Film Festival in San Francisco, here’s a look at some of his internationally recognized projects.
Eshtebak (2016)
Produced by Mohamed Hefzy, Eshtebak premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, where it served as the opening film.
Directed by Mohamed Diab, the film, led by Nelly Karim, Handy Adel, and Ahmed Malek, takes place almost entirely inside a police truck during the political unrest in Egypt in 2013, bringing together people from opposing sides of the divide as tensions rise.
Sheikh Jackson (2017)
Co-produced by Hefzy, Sheikh Jackson screened at both the Toronto International Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival.
The film follows a conservative imam, played by Ahmed Malek, whose world is turned upside down after the death of Michael Jackson, forcing him to confront his complicated relationship with the pop star and his own past.
Yomeddine (2018)
Co-produced by Hefzy, Yomeddine competed in the Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the François Chalais Prize in 2018. It was also selected as Egypt’s submission for the 91st Academy Awards’ International Feature Film category.
The film follows Beshay, a man cured of leprosy who sets off across Egypt with a young orphan named Obama to search for his family.
You Will Die at 20 (2019)
Co-produced by Mohamed Hefzy, You Will Die at 20 premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2019, where it won the Lion of the Future – Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Film.
Directed by Amjad Abu Alala, the Sudanese drama follows a young man who grows up believing he is destined to die at 20, after a prophecy made at his birth, and struggles to find his own path in life.
Souad (2020)
Co-produced by Hefzy, Souad made its way to the Cannes Film Festival’s Official Selection, the Berlin International Film Festival’s Panorama section, and the Tribeca Film Festival.
Directed by Ayten Amin, the film follows a teenage girl in the Nile Delta whose carefully curated online identity contrasts with her everyday life, exploring the pressures of adolescence, relationships, and social expectations.
Amira (2021)
Produced by Hefzy, Amira premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where it received the Lanterna Magica Award, the Enrico Fulchignoni Award, and the INTERFILM Award for Promoting Interreligious Dialogue.
Directed by Mohamed Diab, the film, led by Saba Mubarak and Tara Aboud, follows a Palestinian teenager who begins questioning everything she knows about her family after discovering a secret about her father’s identity.
Feathers (2021)
Produced by Hefzy, Feathers premiered at the Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week, where it won the section’s Grand Prize in 2021.
Directed by Omar El Zohairy, the dark comedy follows an Egyptian mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when a magic trick transforms her husband into a chicken, leaving her to provide for their family in his absence.
Voy! Voy! Voy! (2023)
Co-produced by Hefzy, Voy! Voy! Voy! was Egypt’s official submission at the 96th Academy Awards.
Directed by Omar Hilal, the film follows a struggling Egyptian security guard, played by Mohamed Farrag, who joins a group pretending to be visually impaired to enter an international blind football tournament in Europe, setting off a scheme filled with twists and moral dilemmas.
Flight 404 (2024)
Produced by Hefzy, Flight 404 was selected as Egypt’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
Directed by Hani Khalifa, the film follows Ghada, played by Mona Zaki, a woman preparing to travel to Makkah for Hajj, who finds herself forced to revisit her troubled past and seek money from people she had hoped to leave behind.
Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo (2024)
Co-produced by Hefzy, Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo screened in the Orizzonti Extra section of the Venice International Film Festival.
Directed by Khaled Mansour, the film follows a young man in Cairo, played by Essam Omar, who sets out to save his beloved dog, Rambo, after the animal becomes involved in a confrontation with a neighbor, taking the pair on a journey that changes their lives.
El Qesas (2026)
Co-produced by Hefzy and Shahinaz El Akkad, El Qesas will represent Egypt at the 2027 Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category. The film follows a gifted pianist, portrayed by Amir El-Masry, living in a small home who sees his musical talent as a way to escape the cramped apartment.
From Cannes and Venice to the Oscars, Mohamed Hefzy has helped bring Egyptian stories to international audiences through Film Clinic. As his career is set to be honored at the Arab Film Festival in San Francisco, these films offer a look at the impact of his work on the global cinema scene.
