Egyptian Short Film ‘Henet Ward’ Receives Special Mention at Palm Springs International ShortFest

The hits just keep on coming. The international spotlight has been shining on Egyptian filmmakers, and today a short film titled ‘Henet Ward’ directed by Morad Mostafa has taken centre stage after receiving a Special Mention for ‘Best Live-Action-Short Over 15 Minutes’ at the Palm Springs International ShortFest. The film's about a Sudanese henna artist living in Egypt and her daughter as they help a bride from Giza prepare for her wedding. The film was among the 332 films – out of over 6000 submissions – chosen for a Special Mention at the festival, and also received a Special Mention of the Jury at the international Akbank Short Film Festival.

‘Henet Ward’ – starring Emad Goneim, Halima and Hagar Mahmoud - was co-written by Mostafa and Egyptian screenwriter Mohamed Ali Mansour, and was the only Egyptian film selected for the Palm Springs International ShortFest.

Mostafa has previously worked as an assistant director on Sherif El-Bendary’s ‘Ali The Goat and Ibrahim’ (2016) and Hala Khalil’s Nawara (2016).