The Alexandria Short Film Festival is back from April 27 to May 2, and this year feels like a mix of “this could happen to you” and “this absolutely should not happen to anyone”—which is exactly why we’re intrigued. The films hook you with strong setups, then pull you into very human and sometimes very strange situations.
Here’s what we’ve got our eyes on:
32B
A separated father is doing his best to stay close to his teenage daughter—but nothing about it is easy. Every interaction feels a little off, a little tense, a little unpredictable.
The film leans into those awkward, emotionally charged parenting moments where both sides are trying… and still missing each other.
Directed by Mohamed Taher (in his debut) and starring Mohamed Mamdouh, Hana Shiha, Jessica Hosameldin and Ahmed Dash, 32B is part of the International Short Fiction Competition. It already picked up the Golden Tanit at the Carthage Film Festival, which definitely raises expectations.
The Last Miracle
One typo. That’s all it takes. An obituary editor accidentally announces the death of a well-known Sheikh… then gets a phone call from him.
From there, things get weird in the best way—late-night drinking, existential spirals, and a meeting that probably shouldn’t be possible.
Directed by Abdelwahab Shawky and inspired by Naguib Mahfouz, the film stars Khaled Kamal and Ahmed Siam (with a special appearance by Ghada Adel). It’s had a strong run—from the Cairo International Film Festival to opening the El Gouna Film Festival—and now lands here.
Blackout
It all unfolds at dawn, right before Eid—inside a residential building where a family is thrown into panic when their grandfather suddenly faces a life-threatening health crisis.
The men rush out in a desperate attempt to find a doctor, turning it into a race against time. And just like that, the building is left behind—full of women and children, waiting, worrying, and imagining the worst.
But the tension doesn’t just sit still. When a new female tenant enters the building with a strange young man, that anxiety starts to shift. Suspicion creeps in, and the residents begin projecting their fears and bottled-up emotions onto the newcomers.
Directed by Ahmed Mostafa El-Zoghby (also a debut), Blackout stars Sedky Sakher and Gihan El Shamashergy and competes in the Egyptian Film Competition. It’s already traveled widely, including the Tampere Film Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival, and picked up awards along the way.
Echo
This one is all about timing—and how sometimes, it fails you.
A man returns hoping to finally say what he couldn’t before, only to find that time has already built a wall between him and the person he’s trying to reach. The more he tries, the more distant it feels.
Directed by Azza Kamel, the film stars Magdi Kamel, who won Best Actor for this role at the Hague International Women’s Film Festival. Expect something quiet, reflective, and a little heavy in the best way.
The Village Rooster
A village bans roosters… so naturally, someone tries to sneak one in.
Emad sees opportunity where others see risk, but pulling this off is anything but simple. It’s the kind of setup that promises both humor and chaos.
Directed by Natalie Mamdouh, the film has its World Premiere here and marks one of the final appearances of the late Lotfi Labib—which makes it feel even more meaningful.
Teta
A child starts hearing his late grandmother’s voice… through his mother’s pregnancy.
That’s the situation—and it only gets more unsettling from there. Is it grief, imagination, or something beyond that? The film keeps you guessing.
Directed by Ahmed Samir and starring Mona Hala, Teta is part of the Egyptian Film Competition after premiering at the Cairo International Film Festival and screening at Manassat.
Apoleon
A museum display comes to life—and suddenly Napoleon’s miniature army isn’t just for show anymore.
What follows is a surreal encounter with the Sphinx that mixes humor with a sharp look at how history is told (and who gets to tell it).
Directed by Amir Youssef, the film is part of the Egyptian Film Competition and has already screened at Visions du Réel, along with several international stops.
Final Thoughts
What’s fun about this selection is how each film drops you into a very specific situation—whether it’s a phone call from the dead, a missing group of people, or just a painfully real conversation between a parent and a teenager.
Short, sharp, and full of ideas—this is exactly the kind of lineup that makes you want to stay for “just one more film”… and then another.
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