Just one day after the passing of celebrated Egyptian director Sameh Abd El-Aziz, his 14-year-old daughter, Jamila, sent her uncle—director Wael Farag—a script of four silent scenes. “This is how I feel in this moment,” she told him. Farag later shared how moved he was by the raw emotion in her writing, and how she took his early notes, studied on her own, refined the script, and returned with a full presentation for a short film she titled Waga‘ El-Foraq (The Pain of Separation).
From Personal Loss to a Festival Premiere
In just four months, Jamila transformed her feelings into a cinematic project that is now set to premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival as a tribute to her father. The film stars Khaled El Sawy and screens on Tuesday, November 18 at 1 PM at the open-air theater, with free entry. A discussion with the young director will follow—making Jamila Sameh Abdel Aziz the youngest Egyptian director to present a film at the festival.
Jamila’s Words
Reflecting on her debut, Jamila said:
“This is the first film I made, and it will remain one of the most important films in my life because it’s connected to the most important person in my life—my father, Sameh Abdel Aziz. I wrote it the day after he passed away. There were many suppressed feelings inside me, and I used them to express myself through something he loved. I wanted to make it in the best way possible, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of his loved ones.”
Honoring a Beloved Filmmaker
Sameh Abdel Aziz, remembered for works like Ramadan Mabrouk Abou El Alamin Hammouda, Bin El Sarayat, Al Farah, Kabareh, and Harb Ahlia, left a lasting mark on Egyptian cinema. His daughter’s film now stands as a heartfelt continuation of that legacy—one shaped by love, loss, and an emerging artistic voice finding its way.
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