Egyptian Short 'Zizou' Selected for Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival

The Egyptian short film Zizou has been officially selected to screen in the international competition at the 48th Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, one of the world’s leading platforms for short-form cinema, making it the only Egyptian film chosen for this year’s edition.

Set in Egypt, 'Zizou' follows a 13-year-old overweight boy who becomes friends with the most popular kid in the neighbourhood — a relationship that brings moments of excitement but also the kind of small humiliations that linger long after they pass. The film offers a candid, empathetic look at early adolescence and the quiet cost of wanting to belong.

'Zizou' arrives in Clermont-Ferrand after a warm reception at the Doha Film Festival, where it earned a Special Mention for Best Performance from the youth jury.

The film is directed by Khaled Moeit, an Egyptian filmmaker and editor whose work spans both festival cinema and mainstream releases. His editing credits include the Cannes-selected 'Souad' (2020) and the commercial hit 'The Shanabs' (2024), alongside directing shorts such as One Frame Per Raid Siren (2019) and 'Crocodile Tears' (2023).