‘Hajjan’ by Acclaimed Egyptian Director Abu Bakr Shawky Now

‘Hajjan’, the latest film by acclaimed Austrian-Egyptian director Abu Bakr Shawky, is now available on the Shahid streaming platform. Since its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film has earned critical acclaim, winning Best Feature and Best Cinematography at the Gulf Cinema Festival in April 2024.

‘Hajjan’, which means ‘jockey’ in Arabic, is a coming-of-age adventure story about the bond between man and animal. Shot largely in Tabuk near Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, the film captivates viewers with its beautifully-captured desert scenery, accompanied by an original score by Tunisian composer Amin Buhayda.

The film tells the story of Matar, the youngest child in a family of camel jockeys. When his brother dies after falling during a race, Matar is supposed to move in with family in the city while his beloved camel, Hofara, is sold for meat. Instead, he becomes a jockey himself, working for a ruthless racing baron until he and Hofara are forced to go on the run together, embarking on a life-threatening journey through the desert in search of freedom and a better life.

The predominantly Saudi cast includes memorable performances by established stars such as Abd Al Mohsen al Nemr and newcomer Omar Alatawi as the film's protagonist.

A graduate of AUC and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Abu Bakr Shawky’s directorial debut Yomeddine premiered at the 71st Cannes Film Festival in 2018.