Oscars: Egypt Submits Comedy ‘Voy! Voy! Voy!’ For Best International Feature Film
20.09.2023 - 13:03
/ deadline.com
Egypt has selected comedy Voy! Voy! Voy! as its candidate for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
Producers VOX Studios, Film Clinic and Image Nation Abu Dhabi announced the selection at the film’s glitzy UAE premiere ahead of its theatrical release across the Gulf on September 21.
Inspired by true events, Voy! Voy! Voy! tells the story of Hassan, a security guard living an impoverished life with his mother who dreams of traveling and living abroad.
One day, he stumbles on the sport of blind football and cunningly decides to pose as a visually impaired man to join a team close to playing a World Cup tournament in Europe. On this journey, he crosses paths with several characters including a rising female journalist following the team and a middle aged coach.
The ensemble cast is led by Mohamed Farrag and also features Bayoumi Fouad, Taha Desouki, Amgad El-Haggar, Hanan Youssef, Mohamed Abdel-Azim, and Hagag Abdel-Azim alongside headliner Nelly Karim with a special appearance by Passant Shawky.
Hilal also wrote the screenplay. The feature is produced by Mohamed Hefzy under the banner of his Cairo-based company Film Clinic.
Voy! Voy! Voy! has topped the box office in Egypt since its world premiere in Cairo on September 12.
“We’re overjoyed and honored at the news of Voy! Voy! Voy! representing Egypt in the Academy Awards; an honor that we at Film Clinic had in the past but feels as ecstatic with each of our films,” said Hefzy.
Film Clinic is also involved as a producer and distributor on this years submissions for Tunisia and Iraq.
“I’m happy that Dubai is our first Arab city outside of Cairo, especially given that two of the three production companies of this film are UAE companies. We’re keen to