Egyptian filmmaker Ayman El Amir is currently developing his next feature film, titled 'A Pair of Shoes in the Dark Corner of the Moon.' The project is a satirical comedy that has been selected for the Crossroads Co-Production Forum of the Agora, which serves as the industry arm of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. El Amir previously co-directed the documentary 'The Brink of Dreams,' a work that gained international recognition for its portrayal of a women's theater troupe in southern Egypt.
The upcoming film is set in a remote village and follows the story of George, a quirky Coptic man who dreams of becoming a famous actor. Despite his ambitions, he remains stuck playing minor roles in low-budget productions. His life changes dramatically when his village is promised a massive sewage infrastructure project. Simultaneously, George is cast in a space-themed reality television show that promises a voyage to the moon. This unexpected opportunity transforms him overnight into a celebrated national hero.
However, the narrative takes a turn when the television show is exposed as a scam, turning George into a public laughingstock. He returns to his home village in disgrace and is effectively exiled by his community. During this period of isolation, he discovers that the promised sewage project was also an illusion. The film follows his subsequent journey of self-discovery as he seeks to reclaim his identity and find a sense of belonging.
El Amir wrote and directs the film, which is being produced by Nada Riyadh under their Cairo-based production company, Felucca Films. Riyadh and El Amir co-directed 'The Brink of Dreams,' which won the Golden Eye Award for best documentary at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024. That award marked the first time an Egyptian film received that specific honor. The duo was also named Variety MENA Talent of the Year for their work.
In an interview conducted in Thessaloniki, El Amir explained that the film explores a precarious moment in Egyptian history. He describes a period of unregulated capitalism where government visions of a new republic have led to the construction of satellite cities, highways, and luxury resorts. These grandiose projects, he notes, often remain unattainable for the millions of ordinary people living on the margins of the ambitious Egyptian Dream.
The director stated that the film asks how one can plan a future that is not in their own control. He described the project as a contemporary dark comedy fable that satirizes the societal obsession with success and fame at all costs. According to El Amir, the story explores the boundaries of aspiration and the invisible barriers that block dreams of equality and opportunity in modern Egyptian society.
El Amir returned to the village of Barsha to develop this new project. He spent several years there while making his previous documentary. He noted that the harsh realities of daily life in the region, including high unemployment and a difficult climate, contrast sharply with the glitzy narrative of a new Egypt. He aims to bring this often unseen version of the country to the screen.
A key motivation for the project came from El Amir's experience during the commercial release of 'The Brink of Dreams.' It was the first Egyptian documentary to be distributed commercially in the country. During audience Q&A sessions, he was surprised by the stereotypes that city-dwellers from Cairo and Alexandria held about their fellow citizens in the south. He observed that Egyptian cinema has been dominated by images of luxury living for the past decade, which represents less than 10 percent of the population.
The project is in advanced development with initial financing secured. Production is planned to begin at the end of 2028. The film recently received recognition at the CineGouna Industry Platform, where it was awarded a $10,000 grant from Arab Radio and Television and a $10,000 production grant from ESLSCA University.
El Amir's primary goal at the Thessaloniki festival is to connect with strategic European and international co-producers. He hopes to find partners who can help navigate funding and co-production avenues. While the village scenes will be shot on location in southern Egypt, the space-themed reality TV sequences could be filmed in other co-production countries. The Thessaloniki Film Festival runs from November 5 to 15.
