CAREER HIGHLIGHT(S):
Founded by Kesmat Elsayed, Seera Films specializes in crafting films by filmmakers from Asia, Africa, and the Arab World. Its co-production repertoire includes Hala Galal’s documentary FROM CAIRO, which won the Best Non-fiction Award at the Horizon of Arab Cinema Competition at the 43rd CIFF; and Ines Marzouk’s MY MOHAMED IS DIFFERENT documentary, which was selected for the 28th Hot Docs and 32nd JCC.
An EAVE Producers Workshop 2021 and a Berlinale Talent 2023 Alumna, Kesmat embarked on her journey in the film industry by independently producing films in Egypt. Her production filmography includes several short documentaries, such as Basam Mortada’s SEARCHING FOR GHAZAL and Mohamed Rashad’s KHAIRALLA.
Hassala Films is an independent production house founded in 2011 in Cairo by a group of artists who believe in the importance of producing low-budget films outside the Egyptian mainstream film market.
After receiving the prestigious Katrin Cartlidge Foundation Award in 2011, Hala Lotfy presented her debut feature, COMING FORTH BY DAY, at the 2012 Berlinale and then received several awards from international festivals. Her production repertoire includes internationally acclaimed documentaries, such as Mohamed Rashad’s LITTLE EAGLES and Christian Suhr’s LIGHT UPON LIGHT.