A short film produced by Egyptian actor Mona Zaki’s production company, HerStory Films MENA, is heading to Berlin after being selected for the Female Filmmakers Festival Berlin.
Alone will screen as part of the annual festival, which runs from October 7 to 11 at Berlin’s Kino Moviemento. The festival celebrates women filmmakers from around the world, showcasing short and feature films alongside music videos, panels, and networking events.
Meet the Women Behind Alone
Alone was directed by Egyptian filmmaker Mona Daoud, who co-wrote the film with Shahira Galal. Zaki produced the short alongside May Abdel Asim, co-founder of HerStory Films MENA.
The production company was founded to support and produce stories by women from Egypt and across the Arab world, giving emerging filmmakers a space to develop their work.
The film was developed through HerStory Films’ film incubator in partnership with the Dutch Embassy in Egypt. The program has supported 47 projects through development and gone on to produce five short films.
A Story About Memory, Grief, and Being Alone
Alone follows Mady, an older woman living with dementia who refuses to accept her condition. Convinced that her daughters have abandoned her, she struggles to make sense of her changing reality.
Alongside her is a caregiver who looks after Mady while quietly carrying her own experience of grief, bringing two women together through very different forms of loss and loneliness.
Who Stars in the Film?
The short stars Egyptian dancer and choreographer Karima Mansour, founder of MAAT Dance Company and the Cairo Contemporary Dance Center, alongside Egyptian actor Latifa Fahmy.
Together, they bring the film’s intimate story of aging, memory, care, and grief to life.
From Los Angeles to Berlin
Alone premiered in April at the fifth Hollywood Arab Film Festival in Los Angeles, where it competed in the short film competition. The festival ran from April 17 to 20.
Since then, the film has continued its festival run, earning selections at eight festivals and taking home three awards.
Now, Alone is adding another international stop to its journey with its selection for Berlin’s Female Filmmakers Festival, giving the short another platform to spotlight Arab women filmmakers and their stories.
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