I am afraid to forget your face

A film by

Egypt/France/Qatar/Belgium / 15' / 09/2020 / fiction

After being separated for 82 days, Adam travels down a rough road to be reunited with the one he loves, whatever it takes. 

Square Eyes - LOGO-SHORT-FILM-2020
Square Eyes - Schermafbeelding 2020-09-01 om 13.55.41
Square Eyes - NDNF_2021_Laurels_OfficialSelection
Square Eyes - LOGO-SHORT-FILM-2020
Square Eyes - Schermafbeelding 2020-09-01 om 13.55.41
Square Eyes - NDNF_2021_Laurels_OfficialSelection
Crew Festivals Press materials

Sameh Alaa

Biography

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Sameh studied German literature at Cairo University. Before moving to Europe, he worked as an assistant director in advertisement and feature films. In 2016, he finished his MA in filmmaking at EICAR film school in Paris. Sameh’s first short film FIFTEEN premiered at Toronto International Film Festival 2017 and won several awards around the world.  In 2019 he made his first advertisement campaign as a writer and director. His last short film I AM AFRAID TO FORGET YOUR FACE, is the first Egyptian film in 50 years to be selected for the Official Short Film Competition at Cannes Film Festival 2020. Sameh is currently developing his debut feature film.

Filmography

  • Fifteen – 2017 – short film
  • I am afraid to forget your face – 2020 – short film
Square Eyes -

Crew

Director: Sameh Alaa
Screenplay: Sameh Alaa
Producers: Muhammad Taymour, Mark Lotfy
Co-producers: Ahmed Zayan, Martin Jerome
Cinematographer: Giorgos Valsamis
Sound Recording: Sameh Nabil
Sound Design: Moataz Al Qammari
Editor: Yasser Azmy
Composer: Universal daughters cover
Production Designer: Shaimaa Magdy
Cast: Seif Hemeda, Nourhan Ahmed

Festivals

  • Cannes Film Festival, France (27 – 29 October, 2020)
    Short Film Competition Won: Palme D’Or for Best Short Film
  • San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain (18 – 26 September, 2020)
    Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Section
  • Reykjavík International Film Festival, Iceland (24 September – 4 October, 2020)
    Short Film Competition
  • Moscow International Film Festival, Russia (1 – 8 October, 2020)
    International Short Film Competition Won: Best Short Film
  • Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur, Belgium (2 – 9 October, 2020)
    Competition Special Mention
  • Curtocircuíto – International Film Festival, Spain (3 – 11 October, 2020)
    Radar Official Competition
  • Film Fest Gent, Belgium (13 – 24 October, 2020)
    International Short Film Competition
  • Uppsala Short Film Festival, Sweden (19 – 25 October, 2020)
    International Competition
  • Bosphorus Film Festival, Turkey (23 – 30 October, 2020)
    International Short Fiction Competition
  • El Gouna Film Festival, Egypt (23 – 31 October, 2020)
    Short Film Competition Won: Best Arab Short Film
  • Izmir International Short Film Festival, Turkey (2 – 7 November, 2020)
    International Fiction Competition
  • Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Switzerland (3 – 8 November, 2020)
    International Competition
  • Sulmona International Film Festival, Italy (4 – 7 November, 2020)
    International Competition
  • Cinemaforum, Poland (4 – 8 November, 2020)
    Main Competition
  • ALCINE 2020 – Festival de Cine de Alcalá de Henares, Spain (6 – 13 November, 2020)
    European Competition
  • Zagreb Film Festival, Croatia (8 – 15 November, 2020)
    Short Film Competition
  • ZINEBI – International Festival of Documentary and Short Film of Bilbao, Spain (13 – 20 November, 2020)
    International Competition
  • Ajyal Film Festival, Qatar (18 – 23 November, 2020)
    Bader Competition
  • Cinemamed – Festival Cinéma Méditerranéen de Bruxelles, Belgium (26 November – 6 December, 2020)
    Short Film Competition Won: Youth Jury Prize
  • London Film Week, United Kingdom (1 – 7 December, 2020)
    Short Film Competition Won: Jury Prize
  • Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt (2 – 10 December, 2020)
    Cinema of Tomorrow – out of Competition
  • Passaggi d’autore: intrecci mediterranei, Italy (3 – 8 December, 2020)
    Official Selection
  • Bogotá Short Film Festival, Colombia (8 – 15 December, 2020)
    Collections Competition
  • MyART Film Festival, Italy (9 -12 December, 2020)
    Competition Special Mention
  • Cine4All Fest, Egypt (20 – 24 December, 2020)
  • Vilnius International Short Film Festival, Lithuania (14 – 17 January, 2021)
    International Competition
  • Beirut Shorts International Film Festival, Lebanon (18 – 20 January, 2021)
    Official Competition Won: Best Director
  • Jerusalem Arab Film Festival, Palestine (20 – 24 January, 2021)
    Competition Won: Best Short Film
  • Flickerfest International Short Film Festival, Australia (22 January – 31 January, 2021)
    International Competition
  • Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, France (29 January – 6 February, 2021)
    International Competition
  • Arthouse Asia Film Festival, India (14 – 21 February, 2021)
    International Short Competition Won: Best International Short Film
  • Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival, Ireland (3 – 14 March, 2021)
    Competition Special Mention
  • Miami Film Festival, United States (5 – 14 March, 2021)
    Official Competition
  • Glasgow Short Film Festival, United Kingdom (22 – 28 March, 2021)
    International Competition
  • Akbank Short Film Festival, Turkey (22 March – 1 April, 2021)
    International Competition Won: Best International Short Film
  • Panorama des cinémas du Maghreb et du Moyen-Orient, France (23 March – 11 April, 2021)
  • Rencontres Internationales De Cinéma, France (25 March – 2 April, 2021)
    Official selection
  • Hong Kong International Film Festival, Hong Kong (1 – 12 April, 2021)
    Short Film Competition
  • European Film Festival of Lille, France (2 – 7 April, 2021)
    Competition
  • Malmö Arab Film Festival, Sweden (6 – 11 April, 2021)
    Short Film Competition
  • 2ANNAS – Riga International Short Film Festival, Latvia (9 – 15 April, 2021)
    International Short Film Competition
  • ALFilm – Arab Film Festival of Berlin, Germany (21 – 30 April, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Busan International Short Film Festival, South-Korea (21 – 26 April, 2021)
    International Competition
  • Atlanta Film Festival, United States (22 April – 2 May, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • New Directors/New Films, United States (28 April – 8 May, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Do Ut Des Film Festival, Italy (8 – 9 May, 2021)
    Main Competition Won: Best Short Film Award
  • Toronto Arab Film Festival, Canada (27 – 30 May, 2021)
    International Competition
  • FCAT – Festival de Cine Africano, Spain (28 May – 6 June, 2021)
    Short Film Competition
  • Prague Short Film Festival, Czech Republic (2 – 27 June, 2021)
    International Competition
  • REGARD – International Short Film Festival Saguenay, Canada (7 – 30 June, 2021)
    Competition
  • Zubroffka – International Short Film Festival, Poland (9 – 13 June, 2021)
    World Wide Section
  • Huesca International Film Festival, Spain (11 – 19 June, 2021)
    International Competition     Won: Premio Danzante Internacional for Best Short Film
  • Mediterranean Film Festival Split, Croatia (17 – 26 June, 2021)
    Short Film Competition
  • Cinema Jove – Festival Internacional de Valencia, Spain (18 – 26 June, 2021)
    Short Film Official Section
  • Figari Film Fest, Italy (18 – 27 June. 2021)
    International Competition
  • International Oriental Film Festival of Geneva, Switzerland (21 – 27 June, 2021)
    International Competition Won: Silver Award
  • Palm Springs International ShortFest, United States (22 – 28 June, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Desertscape IFF, United States (23 – 26 June, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Ischia Film Festival, Italy (26 June – 3 July, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Il Varco International Short Film Festival, Italy (27 June – 3 July, 2021)
    International Competition
  • SAFAR Film Festival, United Kingdom (1 – 10 July, 2021)
  • Bašta Fest, Serbia (1 – 4 July, 2021)
    Official Competition
  • Shorts International Film Festival, Italy (2 – 10 July, 2021)
    Maremetraggio Section Won: Best Film
  • Diversions International Short Film Festival, Croatia (5 – 8 July, 2021)
    Official selection Won: Grand Prix
  • Cisterna Film Festival, Italy (10 – 18 July, 2021)
    Competition Won: Grand Prix
  • Social World Film Festival, Italy (11 – 18 July, 2021)
    Competition Won: Best International Short Film
  • Filmfest Dresden, Germany (13 – 18 July, 2021)
    Open Air Screening
  • Belgian Film Festival, France (16 – 22 July, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Burgas International Film Festival, Bulgaria (16 – 23 July, 2021)
    Short Film Competition Won: Best International Short
  • SiciliAmbiente, Italy (18 – 24 July. 2021)
    Short Film Section Won: Second Prize for Best Short Film
  • Ischia Global Film Festival, Italy (18 – 25 July, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Reggio Calabria Film Festival, Italy (18 – 25 July, 2021)
    Competition
  • Andaras Traveling FilmFestival, Italy (20 – 25 July, 2021)
    Official Selection Honorable Mention
  • Indy Shorts International Film Festival, United States (20 – 25 July, 2021)
    Roots, Reconnected Program
  • Periferia dell’impero film festival, Italy (23 – 25 July, 2021)
    Competition
  • Pop Corn Festival, Italy (23 – 25 July, 2021)
    Short Film Competition
  • Prato Film Festival, Italy (26 – 31 July, 2021)
    Competition
  • Civitanova Film Festival, Italy (26 July – 1 August, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Drim Short Film Festival, North Macedonia (29 July – 1 August, 2021)
    International Program Won: Best International Short Film
  • Saturnia Film Festival, Italy (30 July – 1 August, 2021)
    Short Film Competition Won: Best International Short Film & Best Director
  • Kyiv International Short Film Festival, Ukraine (4 – 8 August, 2021)
    Festival hits
  • Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia (5 – 22 August, 2021)
    Short Film Competition
  • DOKUFEST – International Documentary and Short Film Festival, Kosovo (6 – 14 August, 2021)
    International Shorts Competition
  • Casole Film Festival (6 June – 31 August, 2021)
    Competition Won: Best Short Film & Best Screenplay
  • Lenolafilmfestival – Festival Internazionale Inventa un Film, Italy (4 – 8 August, 2021)
    International Competition Won: Best Film, Best Editing
  • Lucania Film Festival, Italy (7 – 11 August, 2021)
    Short Film Competition Won: Best Screenplay
  • Open Air Filmfest Weiterstadt, Germany (11 – 16 August, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Sarajevo Film Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina (13 – 20 August, 2021)
    TeenArena
  • Festival cinémas d’Afrique, Switzerland (18 – 22 August, 2021)
  • Corto e capo, Italy (18 – 23 August, 2021)
    Competition
  • Concorto Film Festival, Italy (21 – 28 August, 2021)
    International Competition Won: Young Jury Prize
  • Cortosonici, Italy (August, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • KUGOMA Film Forum Mozambique, Mozambique (23 – 28 August, 2021)
  • Svaneti International Film Festival, Georgia (25 – 29 August, 2021)
    Competition
  • Kino Otok – Isola Cinema International Film Festival, Slovenia (25 – 29 August, 2021)
    Video on the Beach
  • Sila Film Festival, Italy (27 – 29 August, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Festival International Cinéma en Liberté, France (27 – 29 August, 2021)
    Competition
  • Fiaticorti Film Festival, Italy (28 August – 10 September, 2021)
    Official Selection Special Mention
  • Encounters Film Festival, United Kingdom (1 – 30 September, 2021)
    Competition
  • Leiden Shorts, the Netherlands (2 – 5 September, 2021)
    Competition
  • Vigata Film Festival, Italy (2 – 5 September, 2021)
    Competition
  • Batroun Mediterranean Film Festival, Lebanon (2 – 5 September, 2021)
    International Competition Won: Best International Film
  • Telluride Film Festival, United States (2 – 6 September, 2021)
    Filmmakers of Tomorrow
  • Minikino Film Week – Bali International Short Film Festival, Indonesia (3-11 September, 2021)
    Official Selection Won: Best Short Film of the Year
  • Seoul Yeongdeungpo International Extreme-short Image & Film Festival, South Korea (7 – 12 September, 2021)
    International Competition Won: Grand Prix
  • DC Shorts Film Festival, United States (9 – 19 September, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • CineFest Miskolc International Film Festival, Hungary (10 – 16 September, 2021)
    Competition
  • FICBUEU International Short Film Festival, Spain (10 – 19 September, 2021)
    International Section
  • Drama International Short Film Festival, Greece (12 – 18 September, 2021)
    International Competition Special mention for Best Director
  • ConCorto – Festival Internazionale del Cinema di Frontiera, Italy (14 – 19 September, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Capri Movie International Film Festival, Italy (15 – 18 September, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, Finland (16 – 26 September, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Afrika Film Festival Köln, Germany (16 – 26 September, 2021)
  • Festival del Cinema Povero, Italy (28 September, 2021)
    International Competition
  • Visioni Corte International Film Festival, Italy (18 – 25 September, 2021)
    Competition CortoFiction International
  • IndieCork Festival, Ireland (19 – 26 September, 2021)
    Competition
  • Roma Creative Contest, Italy (20 – 25 September, 2021)
    Competition Won: Best International Short Film
  • Out Of Bounds Film Festival, Italy (22 – 23 September, 2021)
    Competition Won: Best Director
  • Visionär Film Festival, Germany (22 – 26 September, 2021)
    Panorama
  • Best Of International Short Films Festival, France (28 September – 3 October, 2021)
    Competition
  • Twin Cities Arab Film Festival, United States (29 September – 3 October, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Bolton International Film Festival, United Kingdom (29 September – 17 October, 2021)
    Competition
  • Jeonju International Short Film Festival, South-Korea (30 September – 4 October, 2021)
    Competition
  • Nashville Film Festival, United States (30 September – 6 October, 2021)
    Competition
  • Sedicicorto Forlì International Film Festival, Italy (1 – 10 October, 2021)
    Movie Competition
  • Matera Film Festival, Italy ( 3 – 9 October, 2021)
    MFF Short
  • Monstrale International Short Film Festival, Germany (6 – 10 October, 2021)
    International Competition Won: First Prize International Competition
  • ValdarnoCinema Film Festival, Italy (6 – 10 October, 2021)
    Competition
  • Festival du Film Arabe, France (6 – 17 October, 2021)
  • Tacoma Film Festival, United States (7 – 14 October, 2021)
    Competition Won: Best Cinematography
  • Un Festival C’Est Trop Court, France (8 – 15 October, 2021)
    European Competition
  • International Short Film Festival of Cyprus, Cyprus (9 – 15 October, 2021)
    Competition
  • Ciné Festival en Pays de Fayence, France (11 – 16 October, 2021)
  • CinemAfrica, Sweden (11 – 24 October, 2021)
    Competition
  • Cormorán Film Fest, Spain (12 – 17 October, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • 15 Short Film Festival, United States (19 October, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Aflam Du Sud Festival, Belgium (12 – 15 October, 2021)
    Competition
  • Festival International Du Film Indépendant De Bordeaux, France (12 – 19 October, 2021)
    Special: African Cinema
  • Riga International Film Festival, Latvia (14 – 24 October,2021)
    Festival Darlings
  • Cinemed – International Mediterranean Film Festival of Montpellier, France (15 – 23 October, 2021)
    Panorama
  • Kaohsiung Film Festival, Taiwan (15 – 31 October, 2021)
    International Short Film Competition
  • shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival (21 – 31 October, 2021)
    International Competition
  • Reggio Film Festival, Italy (26 October – 21 November, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Panorama Internacional Coisa de Cinema, Brazil (27 October – 3 November, 2021)
    International Competition
  • GeumCheon Fashion Film Festival, South-Korea (5 – 7 November, 2021)
    SESIFF Focus
  • Florence Short Film Festival, Italy (3 – 4 November, 2021)
    Official Selection
  • Lumières d’Afrique, France (6 – 14 November, 2021)
    Competition
  • Duhok International Film Festival, Iran (11 – 18 November, 2021)
    World Cinema Short Films
  • Amiens International Film Festival, France (12 – 20 November, 2021)
    Competition Special Mention
  • Soria International Short Film Festival, Spain (14 – 21 November, 2021)
    Official Selection Won: Special Jury Award
  • Magma – Mostra Di Cinema Breve, Italy (15 – 20 November, 2021)
    Competition
  • Drunken Film Fest – Bradford, United Kingdom (November, 2021)
  • Minute Short Film International Film Festival, China (November, 2021)
    Out of Competition
  • Arab Film Festival, United States (18 – 24 November, 2021)
    Competition
  • Hummingbird International Film Festival, India (19 – 21 November, 2021)
    Competition Won: Best Fiction Film
  • Shorts That Are Not Pants, Canada (19 – 28 November, 2021)
    Competition
  • Festival Format Court, France (23 – 28 November, 2021)
    Competition
  • Puerto Rico Film Festival, Puerto Rico (1 – 5 December, 2021)
  • International Film Festival Of Uruguay, Uruguay (4 – 12 December, 2021)
    Short Film Competition
  • AfryKamera Film Festival, Poland (10 – 19 December, 2021)
  • Calcutta International Short Film Festival, India (17 – 19 December, 2021)
    Competition

Password




Press materials

EPK: Click here

Stills, poster & director’s photo: Click here

Dialogue list English & French: Click here

Downloadable trailer: Click here

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