Yara Lotfy Khufu, the debut film by director Mahmoud Assi, has won the Silver Leopard (Pardino d’Argento – Arts3 Foundation Award) in the International Competition at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, marking its first international participation in an official competition.
The jury praised the film’s various cinematic elements in its official statement. The Locarno Film Festival is considered one of the world’s most prestigious and established international film festivals.
The film was screened three times as part of the official competition of the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, on August 8, 9 and 10, drawing large audiences and receiving significant public and critical acclaim, with members of the filmmaking team in attendance.
Khufu is Mahmoud Assi’s first short directorial work.
Commenting on the award, Mahmoud Assi, the film’s director, said:
“Cinema is a living archive of our questions and human emotions, and Khufu is my first contribution to this vast and extraordinary archive.”
The film is set in Nazlet El-Semman, where homes breathe in the dust of history beneath the shadow of the pyramids. At the heart of this setting is Sayed, a 14-year-old boy caught between society’s expectations and his quiet love for his sick family camel. As the pressures surrounding him intensify, Sayed finds himself confronted with a question larger than himself: How far can loyalty endure? And how does a person grow up in a place where the roots of tradition are intertwined with the harsh realities of everyday survival?
The film was brought to life with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP), following its win in the Short Film Competition—an initiative launched by WFP and Zest, in collaboration with the El Gouna Film Festival, to support filmmakers with distinctive visions and bring authentic human stories to wider audiences.
Filming took place on real locations and presented its own set of challenges, most notably coordinating the presence of animals within an urban environment. To ensure the safety of the camel, cast and crew, the production worked throughout filming with specialized veterinarians and a professional animal trainer, ensuring that the animal was handled with the utmost care and responsibility in every scene.
Khufu is produced by Zest and Fig Leaf, in co-production with Kit & Crew, FilmRoots and Objective 9. The project is led by producers Abdallah Denior and Mark Lotfy, alongside co-producers Mina Nabil, Mahmoud Assi, Bahiga El-Soussi, and Samuel Gagnon.
Additional co-production comes from Rio Media, Deuperiz Films, and The Flock.
The film brings together collaborators from Egypt, France, Sweden and Canada.
The creative team includes Production Manager Fahmy El-Naggar, Director of Photography Karim Marold, Editor Samir Radwan, Colorist Mina Nabil, Production Designer Ibram Steven, and Sound Designer and Re-recording Mixer Michael Fawzy.
The film stars Hanady Abdel Khalek and Mohamed El-Badry, with Ibrahim Ahmed and Haliana Petrova also appearing in the cast.
