THE STORIES JUTUD ABU BAKR SHAWKY

  • AUSTRIA | FRANCE | BELGIUM | EGYPT | SWEDEN

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  • GERMAN | ARABIC | ENGLISH

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  • 2025

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  • 111 mins

In the summer of 1967, aspiring pianist Ahmed receives a letter from Liz, a pen pal from Austria. Over the next fifteen years, a relationship evolves in which she pushes him towards an elusive goal of performing in a concert during times of war.

Producer(s) or Production Company :

Julie Viez, Mohamed Hefzy, Alexander Glehr, Olivier Guerpillon, Marta Reguerra Gutiez

Screenplay :

Abu Bakr Shawky

Director of Photography :

Wolfgang Thaler

Editor :

Roland Stöttinger

Sound :

Rawad Hobeika, Rana Eid, Florent Lavallée

Cast :

Amir El Masry, Nelly Karim, Ahmed Kamal, Khaled Mokhtar, Ahmed Azaar, Hassan El Adl, Karim Kassem, Johannes Krisch, Maria Hofstätter, Valerie Pachner

Awards - Winner :

Carthage FF (Golden Tanit: Best Film)

Awards - Nominations | Screened | Official Selection :

Tallinn Black Nights FF (Official Selection), Red Sea IFF (Official Selection)

Abu Bakr Shawky (b.1985) is an Egyptian-Austrian filmmaker. He studied Political Science at the American University in Cairo and earned an MFA in Film Production from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. His short films THE COLONY (2008) and THINGS I HEARD ON WEDNESDAYS (2012) are screened at several IFFs. His graduation project, YOMEDDINE (2018), marked his feature debut and premiered in the Main Competition at the Cannes FF, also received major awards, and was Egypt’s official submission to the 91st Academy Awards. His later features include HAJJAN (2013). THE STORIES is his 3rd feature film.