Essam Omar & Ahmed Danaf to Be Honoured at Alexandria Short Film Fest

The Alexandria Short Film Festival will present the Golden Hypatia Award for Creativity to Essam Omar and Ahmed Danaf during its twelfth edition, scheduled to run in Alexandria from April 27th to May 2nd, 2026.

Omar studied theatre at Alexandria University and began his career on stage before moving into film and television. He gained wider recognition through the series ‘Balto’, followed by roles in ‘Batal El Alam’, ‘Ain Seheria’ and ‘Masar Igbari’. His film work includes ‘Seeko Seeko’ and ‘The Search for an Exit for Mr Rambo’, for which he received a Best Actor award.

Danaf is a Gaza-based cinematographer and filmmaker. His short film ‘School Day’ won the Youssef Chahine Award at the Cairo International Film Festival 2024 and screened at multiple international festivals. He also co-directed ‘Dayel ‘Ana ‘Ard’ with Mai Saad, a film following members of the Free Gaza Circus after displacement, which received the Audience Award at the Cairo International Film Festival and additional recognition at regional and international festivals.

Founded in 2015, the Alexandria Short Film Festival is held annually to showcase short films and provide a platform for filmmakers. It is organised by the Art Circle Association under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the Tourism Promotion Authority, Red Star and the Alexandria Governorate.