Skip to main content

Egyptian director's debut film honored at Cannes

The touching low-budget Egyptian film "Yomeddine" took the Francois Chalais Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
71st Cannes Film Festival - Photocall for the film “Yomeddine” in competition - Cannes, France May 10, 2018. Director A.B. Shawky and producer Dina Emam pose. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe - UP1EE5A0SAO1G
Read in 

CAIRO — "Yomeddine" (“Judgment Day”), an Egyptian tragicomedy about discrimination and friendship, left the 71st Cannes International Festival with the Francois Chalais Prize May 18, marking an unexpected success for a debut film with a small budget and no stars. The award is the first for an Egyptian film in the international festival in nearly two decades.

"Yomeddine," by young director AB Shawky, was also nominated for a Palme d’Or award, but lost to “Shoplifters” by Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.