Egypt's "Blackout" to Compete at 37th Palm Springs International ShortFest
Yara Sameh
Egyptian short film "Blackout" will compete at the 2025 Palm Springs International ShortFest, one of the world's premiere festivals dedicated to short form film.
The 37th edition of the festival, running June 24-30 in the famed Sonoran Desert town in California, will showcase 311 films hailing from 64 countries and territories.
"Blackout" will screen in the Welcome to the Neighbourhood section, alongside over 300 shorts from more than 100 countries.
Directed and written by Ahmed Moustafa ElZogbhy, "Blackout" follows a family during the early hours of Eid, as a health emergency spirals into psychological tension inside a Cairo apartment building. With the male family members gone in search of a doctor, the women and children are left behind, until a mysterious tenant and her companion arrive, triggering a confrontation with their fears and expectations.
The film stars Sedky Sakhr, Gihan El Shamashergy, Yara Goubran, and Malek Emad. Co-producers include Mohamed Hefzy, Safei ElDin Mahmoud, Aly El Araby, and more.
It is produced by Hind Metwalli, Mohamed Hefzy, Safei Eldin Mahmoud, Baho Bakhsh, Ali Elarabi, Ahmed Amer, Sherif Fathy, Ibrahim El-Nagari, and Mustafa El-Kashef.
"Blackout" previously competed at the 55th Tampere Film Festival in Finland to critical acclaim.
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The Palm Springs International ShortFest, held annually in California, is an Oscar, BAFTA, and Goya-qualifying event, spotlighting standout global shorts.
It is an Oscar-qualifying festival in five categories: Best of the Festival Award, Best Animated Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes and Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under.
Blackout
Blackout
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