Egyptian Film Clinic Director Mohamed Hefzy Talks Upcoming Listing – Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: Leading independent production company in Egypt Film Clinic is preparing for filming The inevitable journey of finding the wedding dress by Jaylan Auf.

Yasmin Raeis (Looking for Oum Kulthum) and newcomer Asma Galal co-star as a bride-to-be and her best friend who embark on a mad dash through Cairo in search of a wedding dress after a mishap with the original gown on the eve of the ceremony.

“It’s a social drama about two best friends from a low-income neighborhood,” says the founder and director of Film Clinic. Mohamed Hefzy. “The city is a big part of the story and a character in the movie.”

Auf previously worked as an assistant director on Egyptian films such as excuse my french, Decor and the mouse catwhile his short film turning ten played in Competition at the Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival in 2019.

“We’ve been trying to get this movie off the ground for over two years. It was just a matter of securing the cast. We are shooting in three weeks in Cairo and will release it next year,” Hefzy says.

The company has a history of detecting and producing or co-producing the first works of emerging Egyptian talent who then make their mark nationally and internationally.

In recent years, Film Clinic has been in cannes with Shock, the second marvel movie moon knight director Mohamed Diab; Abu Bakr Shawky’s Yomeddine and Omar El Zohairy Feathers.

The company is at the festival this year as MENA distributor of Kaouther’s Palme d’Or contender Ben Hania. four daughters as well as co-producer of Morad Mostafa’s Cannes Critics’ Week short film I promise you paradise which is lead produced by rising Egyptian producer Sawsan Yusuf and French company Margaux Lorier.

Film Clinic has also uploaded to Mostafa’s upcoming first feature film Aisha can’t fly anymore as a producer together with Yusuf. The film, which was developed with support from the Cannes Cinefondation residency programme, will be shot next year.

Previously announced features on their list that are nearing completion include Yomeddine the second feature from director Shawky, the “camel western” filmed in Saudi Arabia Hayyanabout a boy with a special bond with his camel who sets out on a journey through the desert.

The company is aiming to release the film at a fall festival.

“Hayyan it was a great production. It took a lot of time and preparation and the shooting period was quite long. It finished at the end of December,” says Hefzy.

The company is also wrapping up post-production in Saudi Arabia. Barakah meets Barakah directorial debut of actress Fatima Al-Banawi Basma; Omar Hilal’s dramatic comedy Go! Go! Go! (opening in MENA theaters in August) and Cairo Mecca, starring Egyptian star Mona Zaki.

“A busy period is ahead in terms of releases and production,” says Hefzy.