Epilogue!

A filmmaker embodies another silent version of himself after facing the tremendous loss of his friend who recently died in prison.

  • Mohamed Kassaby
    Director
    Director
  • Mohamed Kassaby
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 29, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    300 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Egypt
  • Country of Filming:
    Egypt
  • Language:
    Arabic
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Mohamed Kassaby

Egyptian film director, screenwriter and producer. His filmography includes his early 2017 short drama THE LAST BREATH, his 2019 short road movie INHABITANTS OF THE NILE, and EPILOGUE, a short documentary which he created through the Self-reference Cinema Workshop in 2020. He won the Best Short Film prize for his 2019 semi-autobiographical film, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED, at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival, which was later screened at over 30 International Film Festivals. He recently wrapped up production on his fifth short film project as a director/producer, FLYING SALAMA, a coming-of-age short film about the enduring magic of friendship. The project has received a production grant from the 2nd edition of the Sunbird Stories Program, and it is Varphi Studio’s first production. His upcoming short film project, IBN EL LEIL, has been developed in the Cinephilia Film Development Workroom and the Screenwriting Workshop at the El Gouna Film Festival by Film Independent. His debut feature film project, AN ENDLESS NIGHT, a neo-noir film set in near future dystopian Cairo, is currently in development phase as it had its kick-off at the 6th edition of Lebanon's prestigious Beirut Cinema Platform. Kassaby co-founded Varphi Studio in 2022, an independent production house based in Alexandria.

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Director Statement

After experiencing the death of a friend of mine who was a well-known filmmaker, as he died in prison after 788 days of detention, I started making this film. One of the things I felt strongly about in the making of this project was that I wanted this film to have its own language which I was creating and learning parallelly, both tonally and structurally. It was important to me that the audience would not go numb in the watching of this film, or be so torn up that they shut down and stopped listening. I know this film is a harsh experience to myself as much as the audience's, however, I know deep inside I am telling a story of honesty and truth. I’m still in fear and doubt. I made this film to feel free after a very complex and personal trauma which made me paralyzed while making this film during a self-reference cinema workshop. Writing felt like bleeding, but I had to dedicate it to my friend who is flying with the angels right now. I’m so pleased to now include Epilogue not just in my filmmaking cosmos, but deep within my soul.