Ali Ali’s Egyptian short thriller Smokey Eyes will make its Jordanian debut at the fifth edition of the Amman International Film Festival—Awal Film (AIFF). The festival will take place in the Jordanian capital from July 3 to 11 and feature the film in its Arab Short Films Competition.
Smokey Eyes, which had its world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival, is a thought-provoking exploration of the aftermath of the 2011 Egyptian uprising. The film courageously addresses pressing social issues such as police brutality, religious tensions, and restricted freedoms for women. The thriller, marking the acting debut of Egyptian rapper Marwan Moussa, follows the character Nour, whose planned date night in Cairo is disrupted by unforeseen events.
The film stars Malak Bazid, Marwan Moussa, Hassan Abouelrouss, Nourine Abouseada and Mohamed Aboughali. Ali Ali directed the film, which Nancy Ali wrote. It features cinematography by Pierre Mouarkech and editing by Nada Zag. Khaled Zaki of Good People Films produced the film with a soundtrack composed by Sary Hany.
MAD World handles the film’s worldwide sales, while MAD Distribution oversees its distribution in the Arab-speaking region.
Ali Ali, an Egyptian film director and co-founder of Good People Films, transitioned from being a computer engineer to pursuing his passion for storytelling through film.