Mai Wael’s NEB TAWY enjoys a full-house screening at Cairo International Short Film Festival
10 January 2024
NEB TAWY, Mai Wael’s Egyptian short film, recently held a soldout screening at the fifth edition of the Cairo International Short Film Festival, which is running from December 19th to the 22nd in Cairo.
The screening — held on Thursday, December 21st — featured a large audience that included prominent media personalities and cinephiles, all of whom lauded Wael, who was also in attendance.
NEB TAWY world premiered at the Zanzibar International Film Festival, where it won a Sembene Ousmane Film Prize. It also screened at the Bahrain Film Festival.
The short film follows a young woman who began working with her uncle on the illegal excavation of artifacts after her father’s death. As the days go by, she does everything she can to keep her father’s memory alive, until one day she realizes something that will turn her life upside down.
The film — which is dedicated to the souls that passed away and left good memories behind for their loved ones — stars Nancy Salah, Remas, and Mahmoud Hagag; was lensed by Hassan El-Zanaty; and co-edited by Mahmoud El-Sherif and Mina.
NEB TAWY was also directed, written, and co-produced by Mai Wael, co-written by Mohamed Ali Mansour, co-produced by Mohanad Hamdy (Raion Production Company), and is being distributed by MAD Solutions across the Arab World.
Mai Wael is a graduate of Egypt's Higher Institute of Cinema and has worked as an assistant director on several films, collaborating with some of Egypt's and the world's most prominent directors. Her filmography includes two short films.