Part of Zawya Shorts 9th edition

Day 1 VOICES FROM AND TO A DIASPORA: ALEYA Director: Omar Abogabal Synopsis: An intimate close-up on Aleya, a trans woman who has recently moved from Cairo to Berlin right after her transition. This portrait marks her first year as a woman, having to cope with the loss of loved ones, family disownment, hormonal and psychological turmoil. She shares intimate stories, anecdotes and poems that document her transition. This short film portrait is a segment from the audio-visual collective, “Voices from & to: a diaspora”, 2024. —-------------------------------------- A CITY WITHOUT LOVE Director: Mostafa Gerbeii Synopsis: Hanan, a teenager from a conservative house, agrees with her lover, Jamal, to take their first kiss together on Valentine's Day, on the stairs of their lessons center building. Will the two be able to escape with the kiss? —-------------------------------------- A PASSING DAY Director: Rasha Shahin Synopsis: A woman’s entire life was changed by the war..The destruction of her old life forces her to meet with a man who seeks pleasure. Their short encounter turns into a glimpse of the life she once had. They both find themselves in a situation that reveals their deep need to connect on an emotional and human level, before they wake up to the dark reality of the city, again. —-------------------------------------- HANDS AND KISSES Director: Khaled Moeit Synopsis: in the world of a newly married couple, a wife is haunted by repulsiveness towards her husband to the point that she decides to drift apart, leaving the husband in agony and regret. —-------------------------------------- HODA - MOTHER ON HOLD Director: Rabelle Erian Synopsis: Hoda, a tattooed choir singer, Coptic Christian, and fighter against adversity, longed to have biological children, but her wish remained unfulfilled. However, twenty years ago, she encountered little Mariam while volunteering at a Coptic children's home. Despite adoption being forbidden by law in Egypt, Hoda's love for Mariam blossomed unconditionally, as if Mariam were her own daughter. However, their relationship is tested when Mariam falls in love with a young man, desires marriage, and gradually distances herself from Hoda.