In East of Noon, her new film selected for the Cinéastes Fortnight 2024, Hala Elkoussy tells the story of Abdo, a musician who rebels against his elders, seeking freedom through his art in a timeless, confined world.
The Egyptian director has, in the past, made a number of short films, some of which are in the collections of the Tate Modern, the Stedelijk Museum and the Bristol Museum of Fine Arts. In 2017, she shot her first feature film, Cactus Flower . The artist also received the Best Actress award at the Dubai Film Festival.
Opinion of the Quinzaine des Cinéastes: "A carnivalesque dystopia, a popular tale somewhere between Ubu and Les 1001 Nuits, Sharq 12 (the international name for East of Noon) is the second feature film by an Egyptian artist . A baroque, excessive film that stands out in African and Arab cinema, Sharq 12 is an allegory of an autocratic country trying to stifle its non-conformist, rebellious youth. All the more reason to underline the courage of this gesture, given that Egyptian censorship has never been so ferocious towards authors."
Cannes Festival 2025: The selection of the Directors' Fortnight
Now it's the turn of the Quinzaine des Cinéastes to unveil its selection, which will be screened from May 14 to 24 during the Cannes Film Festival 2025: 28 singular films that resist the dominant ideology, for the 57th edition of this independent film event. [Read more]
The Cannes Film Festival makes its return to the Croisette for its 79th edition from May 12 to 23, 2026. Click here for the latest updates and news! [Read more]
Cannes Festival 2025: The selection of the Directors' Fortnight
Cannes Film Festival 2026: The Latest News and Updates on the 79th Edition
