Egyptian cinema is gaining international recognition, with Mohamed El-Samman’s film Rat Hole being the latest success. During the closing ceremony of the recent BRICS Film Festival on April 23rd, lead actress Rana Khattab won the prestigious Best Actress Award, capturing the audience’s hearts.
This latest triumph adds to Khattab’s growing list of international wins. This award followed her earlier recognition as a Special Mention for Best Actress at the Amman International Film Festival. Her portrayal in “Rat Hole” has garnered widespread acclaim, cementing her status as one of Egypt’s most promising talents.
The film follows a telemarketer for a non-profit organization who tries to convince people to make financial contributions. In order to assist her family, she is forced to violate her principles and act in a manner that exposes the seedy underbelly of the NGO in which she is employed.
Since its world premiere at the Aswan International Women’s Film Festival, RAT HOLE has garnered widespread acclaim and recognition, being listed among the 14 must-see films at the Amman International Film Festival and receiving positive reviews from critics, including one from film critic Mohamed Nabil, who commended the director’s choice of a dark and realistic approach that fits in perfectly with the overall tone of the film.
RAT HOLE was shot over two days during the early morning hours in a real workplace before its actual employees arrived for work, with the film engagingly portraying working women while keeping the focus on a single character in one location for 94 minutes.
The film was written, produced, and directed by Mohamed El Samman and stars Rana Khattab, who worked as a radio presenter on Nogoum FM and appeared in several works, including the play RAYA AND SEKINA’S GRAND CHILDREN, the TV series 100 WESH, LAMS AKTAF, and SARAYA ABDEEN. It also stars Mohamed Yorka, Kamal El-Asnawy, Hanan Helmy, among others.
Egyptian writer and director Mohammed El Samman is a member of the Egyptian Cinema Syndicate’s Directing Department. He released two novels, UNEXPECTED MR. RIGHT and REMONDA. His script, EARTHMEN, also won the Sawiris Cultural Award’s Best Script of 2022.
