Private Project

Pause

In a nursing home for the elderly, an extraordinary bond forms between Dr. Selim and Hayat, a silent woman who cannot hear or speak, yet clings to one desire: the return of her absent son, Noor.
To ease her loneliness, Selim invents imaginary phone calls, translating them into sign language in hopes of rekindling life in her weary heart. As he becomes immersed in the world he creates for her, he begins to see in her the reflection of his late mother, while she finds in him the son who never came back.
Her life becomes suspended by the hope of receiving her son’s call at a specific time the following day; until that moment arrives, she once again retreats into her isolated state, withdrawn from those around her and rejecting life.
Pause offers a deeply human moment of stillness—where losses intersect, and tenderness becomes a refuge for two souls searching for meaning, closeness, and the warmth time rarely grants.

  • Khaled Mursi Hammoud
    Director
  • Nadia Hammad
    Writer
  • Khaled Mursi Hammoud
    Producer
  • Labarian Production and Distribution
    Producer
  • Moustafa Youssef
    Key Cast
    "Selim"
  • Lauren Lou Geoffroy
    Key Cast
    "Hayat"
  • Malak Kadry
    Key Cast
    "Ghada"
  • Mohamed Mahmoud
    Key Cast
    "Child"
  • Ali Mohamed Hasan
    Key Cast
    "Shady"
  • Mohamed Bayoumi
    Key Cast
    "Kilany"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    توقف
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Deaf, Deaf-mute, family, elder, nursing home, mother, sign language
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 15 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    Egypt
  • Country of Filming:
    Egypt
  • Language:
    Arabic
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:2.39
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Khaled Mursi Hammoud

I am a Urologist and Professor of Urology at Cairo University, with decades of experience dedicated to healing and teaching. Beyond medicine, I am an award-winning photographer whose work has been recognized in numerous festivals and competitions both local and international. My growing passion for visual storytelling inspired me to embark on a new journey into filmmaking and directing, where I continue to study, experiment, and develop my artistic voice. Drawn to human stories and social issues, I aspire to create cinematic expressions that carry depth, empathy, and meaning.

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Director Statement

As a Urologist and Professor of Urology, my work has immersed me in deeply human experiences that shape the way I see the world. Photography allowed me to capture these moments, but filmmaking became the medium through which I could explore them more fully. I am drawn to stories that reflect social issues, personal struggle, and the quiet resilience within people’s lives. My aim as a director is to create honest, meaningful cinematic expressions that evoke empathy and illuminate the human condition with clarity and compassion.