Since its screening at various international festivals, the Egyptian short film "Henet Ward" is still seeking the OSCARS and representing Egypt at more prestigious film competitions. However, the film's crew had to postpone their dreams and turn them on hold due to the impact of the COVID-19 on the film festivals.
Regarding this issue, the film's director Morad Mostafa expressed to Sky News that the film shed the lights on the African residents in Egypt. therefore, he chose a real character which Halima, the Hena artist.
He involved her character in the film and gave her the freedom to react naturally before the cameras.
Mostafa added that searching for such a character as Halima and her daughter Ward took almost two months and a half. All the film's characters had no previous acting experience except one actor which was really challanging.
Regarding the international participation of the film, the director revealed that the film participated in more than 100 film festivals including 20 festivals that qualify for the OSCARS and the BAFTA competitions. Also, it won 16 international prizes.
In the same context, Mostafa highlighted that he still dreams of the participation of his film in the OSCARS next year as COVID-19 forced various organizers to cancel the festivals this year.
“Henet Ward’s lead character, Halima, is a Sudanese henna artist who is called upon to paint the bride-to-be of a well-off Egyptian family.
She goes in the company of her seven-year-old daughter, Ward. They are both refugees in Egypt. The day does not go to plan, for either of them.
"Henet Ward" is a look into the experiences of Sudanese refugees inspired by the video of a bullied Sudanese student that went viral across Egypt last year.
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