Egypt has selected comedy Voy! Voy! Voy! as its candidate for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
Producers VOX Studios, Film Clinic and Image Nation Abu Dhabi announced the selection at the film’s glitzy UAE premiere ahead of its theatrical release across the Gulf on September 21.
Inspired by true events, Voy! Voy! Voy! tells the story of Hassan, a security guard living an impoverished life with his mother who dreams of traveling and living abroad.
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One day, he stumbles on the sport of blind football and cunningly decides to pose as a visually impaired man to join a team close to playing a World Cup tournament in Europe. On this journey, he crosses paths with several characters including a rising female journalist following the team and a middle aged coach.
The ensemble cast is led by Mohamed Farrag and also features Bayoumi Fouad, Taha Desouki, Amgad El-Haggar, Hanan Youssef, Mohamed Abdel-Azim, and Hagag Abdel-Azim alongside headliner Nelly Karim with a special appearance by Passant Shawky.
Hilal also wrote the screenplay. The feature is produced by Mohamed Hefzy under the banner of his Cairo-based company Film Clinic.
Voy! Voy! Voy! has topped the box office in Egypt since its world premiere in Cairo on September 12.
“We’re overjoyed and honored at the news of Voy! Voy! Voy! representing Egypt in the Academy Awards; an honor that we at Film Clinic had in the past but feels as ecstatic with each of our films,” said Hefzy.
Film Clinic is also involved as a producer and distributor on this years submissions for Tunisia and Iraq.
“I’m happy that Dubai is our first Arab city outside of Cairo, especially given that two of the three production companies of this film are UAE companies. We’re keen to witness how the UAE audiences receive Voy! Voy! Voy! especially after the acclaim it is getting since it premiered in Cairo just a week ago,” added Hefzy.
Darine El Khatib, Vice President – Production at VOX Studios parent Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment – said the company’s involvement in Voy! Voy! Voy! was part of its strategy to get behind local productions in the MENA region.
“There is a multitude of creativity within the MENA region and, we are committed to bring authentic Arabic stories to audiences across the region and beyond. We are grateful to our partners Film Clinic and Image Nation Abu Dhabi for collaborating with us on this project to ensure that fresh regional productions make it to the big screen,” she said.
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