THE STORIES

 France, Egypt, Austria, Sweden I 2025 I Arabic dialogue with English subtitles l 111 min

ABOUT FILM

Egyptian director Abu Bakr Shawky reaffirms his position as one of the leading voices in contemporary Arab cinema with his feature film The Stories, which achieved significant international recognition, crowned by winning the Gold en Tanit, the highest award at the 36th edition (2025) of the Carthage Film Festival, in a distinguished Arab acknowledgment of the film’s artistic and human value.

The film began its international journey in the Official Competition of the 28th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, one of Northern Europe’s most prominent festivals, before having its Arab premiere at the fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, confirming its balanced presence on both the international and Arab cinematic stages.

The Stories unfolds as a tragicomedy, following the journey of an Egyptian pianist who dreams of reaching Vienna, the capital of classical music. Spanning two pivotal periods between 1967 and 1984, the narrative transforms the artistic journey into a path of human maturation, where personal ambitions intersect with the political and social transformations experienced across the region. Through this temporal span, the film captures moments of ascent and setback, and the search for one’s own voice in a changing world.

What distinguishes the film is its ability to balance comedic sensibility with tragic depth without affectation or didacticism. Shawky employs a patient, human-centered narrative and delivers compelling performances, with Amir El-Masry and Nelly Karim portraying characters driven more by questions than answers. The camera remains close to the faces, and the carefully measured rhythm allows music, silence, and fleeting moments to carry their full dramatic weight.

At the Malmö Arab Film Festival, The Stories offers a rich and moving cinematic experience that blends entertainment with reflection, inviting audiences to discover a film honored with the highest Arab award, marked by profound human sensitivity, and reaffirming once again Arab cinema’s ability to produce mature works that transcend time and geography