Abo Zaabal 89’ Wins Best Documentary at Cairo Int’l Film Festival

Originally Published on November 22nd, 2024

Directed by Bassam Mortada, the Egyptian feature documentary Abo Zaabal 89 claimed the Best Feature Documentary Award at the 45th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival. The film received overwhelming acclaim, with four sold-out screenings during the festival. The documentary also recieved a special mention at the festival.

Abo Zaabal 89 recounts the true story of the director’s father, Mahmoud Mortada, a political prisoner arrested in Egypt in 1989. The documentary intricately blends the narrative of Bassam’s childhood with the emotional aftermath of his father’s imprisonment. It explores the shifting dynamics of a family fractured by loss, grappling with grief, camaraderie, and the profound impact of incarceration—not only on those behind bars but also on those left outside.

9:19 PM update: ‘Abo Zaabal 89’ also won the festival’s Best African Film Award