Egyptian filmmaker Yomna Khattab’s debut documentary, 50 Metres, premiered at the Copenhagen International Documentary Festival (CPH: DOX).
Set against a fifty-metre training pool backdrop, 50 Metres explores Khattab’s personal and professional journey as a first-time director. The film delves into her efforts to close the emotional distance from her father, using the filmmaking process to facilitate heartfelt conversations. Through a combination of fictional scenes and reflective voice-overs, Khattab examines their relationship and her own life choices, ultimately finding a sense of reconciliation with both her father and herself.
“Turning 35 brought me to a crossroads in life where decisions about career, parenthood, and the future became urgent,” Khattab explained. “I found myself grappling with questions about ageing, loneliness, and mortality, and I needed clarity. Immersing myself in my father’s world, I used the filmmaking process to spend more time with him and confront these universal fears.”
The producers, Ahmed Amer and Patricia Drati described 50 Metres as a labour of love, requiring years of dedication to bring the project to fruition. “This is a rare Egyptian-Danish co-production that unites talent from both countries to tell a deeply personal yet universally relatable story,” they said.
Produced by Egypt’s A.A. Films and Denmark’s Good Company Pictures, the film also involves creative contributions from composer Jonas Colstrup and editors Gladys Joujou and Khaled Moeit. The project has been widely recognised, securing prestigious awards such as the IDFA Spotlight Award at the Durban Film Mart in 2022 and development grants from the Red Sea Production Fund and the Danish Film Institute Fund.
Based in Cairo, Khattab transitioned from economics to filmmaking, bringing her storytelling talent to writing and directing. Her previous works include the short story collection Videotape from the Nineties and the award-winning script Rokaya’.
