CinéMadart is set to screen the documentary ’50 Meters’, directed by Yomna Khattab, as part of the Ciné-Club Cinéfiis program. This event promises audiences a unique opportunity to engage with the filmmaker’s intimate storytelling style in a curated cine-club atmosphere.
The film will be shown on Tuesday, April 21, at 8:30 PM as part of CinéMadart’s ongoing screenings in connection with the Cinéfiis initiative.
50 Meters is part of a burgeoning movement of independent and documentary filmmaking in the region, highlighting personal narratives. In the debut film, Khattab delves into a complex father-daughter relationship against the backdrop of a swimming pool in Cairo, touching on broader themes of identity and emotional reconciliation.
Using the 50-meter pool as a central motif, the filmmaker navigates the challenges of creating her documentary while focusing on her emotionally distant father. Through her evolving documentary style, including fictionalised scenes and introspective voice-overs, Khattab confronts her family dynamics. As the narrative progresses, she reveals her own vulnerabilities, paving the way for reconciliation with her father and insight into her life choices.
50 Meters has gained recognition on the international film festival circuit, having premiered at the Copenhagen International Documentary Festival before screening at respected festivals such as Mostra de València in Spain, the Oran International Arab Film Festival in Algeria, CINEMED in France, the Middle East Now Film Festival in Italy, and the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt.
This documentary, a collaborative effort among Egyptian, Danish, and Saudi filmmakers, features a talented team under Khattab’s guidance. It includes an original score by award-winning composer Jonas Colstrup, with editing by Gladys Joujou and Khaled Moeit. The production was spearheaded by Ahmed Amer of A.A. Films and Patricia Drati of Good Company Pictures. MAD World is managing international sales. At the same time, MAD Distribution will oversee the film’s release in the Middle East and North Africa.
Khattab is known for her short film ‘Let Us Play Yesterday’, which won the Robert Bosch Film Prize Development Fund in 2021 and debuted at the International Short Film Competition at the El Gouna Film Festival. Her work frequently examines women’s choices and the political, economic, and emotional factors that shape contemporary family dynamics.
