Sameh Alaa

Directing

Sameh Alaa

Egypt

Sameh Alaa is an Egyptian film director. Born in Cairo, he studied at Cairo University, before moving to Europe. In 2020, he became the first Egyptian director to have a film screened in the Short Film Competition section at the Cannes Film Festival. His film, I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face, won the Short Film Palme d'Or at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, making it the first Egyptian film to achieve this honor. In June 2021, he was named one of the six jury members for the Cinéfondation and Short Films section at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face poster
5.7

After an 82-day separation, Adam travels a rough road to be reunited with the one he loves, whatever it takes.

I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face

2020

I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face poster
5.7

After an 82-day separation, Adam travels a rough road to be reunited with the one he loves, whatever it takes.

I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face

2020

No artwork available
NR

Cairo, 1964. Alaa, a 12-year-old boy, and his three younger siblings hear shouting from the street. Outside, the crowd is cheering for a man. The children can barely believe their eyes: the man is their father, Ibrahim.

The Day I Smoked a Cigarette with My Father

2026

No artwork available
NR

Cairo, 1964. Alaa, a 12-year-old boy, and his three younger siblings hear shouting from the street. Outside, the crowd is cheering for a man. The children can barely believe their eyes: the man is their father, Ibrahim.

The Day I Smoked a Cigarette with My Father

2026

Fifteen poster
8.0

On a hot summer day, a taciturn teen boy makes his way through the hustle of Cairo — with a baby in tow. His arrival at a hospital reveals the turmoil beneath his muted expression, in this stark and compassionate examination of trauma.

Fifteen

2017

Fifteen poster
8.0

On a hot summer day, a taciturn teen boy makes his way through the hustle of Cairo — with a baby in tow. His arrival at a hospital reveals the turmoil beneath his muted expression, in this stark and compassionate examination of trauma.

Fifteen

2017

Le Steak de Tante Margaux poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Le Steak de Tante Margaux

2015

S The Wolf poster
NR

A middle-aged man reflects back on his tumultuous adolescent phase while sitting in his childhood bedroom. Through intricate and deeply personal musings somehow all tied to his hair - hair growing or hair receding - we, over time accumulate meaning into the larger journey of his life.

S The Wolf

2025

S The Wolf poster
NR

A middle-aged man reflects back on his tumultuous adolescent phase while sitting in his childhood bedroom. Through intricate and deeply personal musings somehow all tied to his hair - hair growing or hair receding - we, over time accumulate meaning into the larger journey of his life.

S The Wolf

2025