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Today, Wednesday, November 19, as part of the Gala screenings at the 46th Cairo International Film Festival, the film Estrangement directed by Mehdi Hmili will have its Middle East and North Africa premiere within the International Competition. The screening will take place at 9:00 PM on the Grand Theatre stage at the Cairo Opera House.
The film, a 120-minute narrative feature, is a co-production between Tunisia, Luxembourg, France, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, presented in Arabic.
Estrangement is set inside one of the largest steel factories in Tunisia, where Mohamed suffers a horrific explosion that leaves a metal shard lodged in his head, gradually deteriorating over time. Following the accident, he is marginalized and reassigned from his main job to a security guard position, turning his frustration into an obsessive quest for revenge. On his dark journey to uncover the truth, Mohamed uncovers threads of a much larger conspiracy while his physical health steadily deteriorates, intertwining a survival struggle with the fight for truth and dignity.
Director Mehdi Hmili is one of the leading voices of contemporary Tunisian cinema. A director, screenwriter, and producer, he is known for his bold films that have received wide acclaim at international festivals. In France, he completed a distinguished black-and-white trilogy exploring themes of love and exile, including X Moment (2009), Li La (2011), and Full Moon Night (2012), marking his unique imprint on complex human experiences in cinema.
About Cairo International Film Festival
Cairo International Film Festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious festivals in the Arab world and Africa, accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). Founded in 1976 and held annually under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, the festival blends artistic and professional dimensions, making it a premier platform for intercultural dialogue and promoting the presence of Arab cinema on the global stage
