BORN A CELEBRITY makes waves on the festival circuit with Arab world premiere at CIFF and world premiere at Asian World Film Festival

In Conjunction with its world premiere at the 10th Asian World Film Festival, Palestinian director Luay Awwad’s comedy short film BORN A CELEBRITY is set to hold its Arab World premiere as part of the Spotlight on Palestinian Cinema Section of the 45th Cairo International Film Festival, running from November 13th to the 22nd at the Cairo Opera House.

BORN A CELEBRITY follows Kamel, a 25-year-old Palestinian, who feels confined in his small Palestinian town and close-knit community and embarks on a journey to discover his personal freedom and privacy. The film challenges the dominant portrayal of Palestinians, often focused on conflict and occupation, by highlighting the everyday lives and struggles of young adults, while also addressing societal expectations and the pressure to conform to traditional norms, such as marriage.

Director Luay Awwad comments, “BORN A CELEBRITY is not just a film about Kamel; it’s a film about the universal quest for freedom… Through Kamel’s journey, this film attempts to reclaim the narrative of young adult Palestinians living in the 21st century by humorously presenting their current lives, dreams, and challenges that go beyond the headlines.”

During its development, BORN A CELEBRITY was featured in the Short Film Market Picks of the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival. The film is written, directed, and edited by Awwad, stars Munther Bannourah and Khaled Masso, with cinematography by Nour Abukamal, who also serves as co-producer alongside Awwad. MAD World also handles its worldwide sales while MAD Distribution is in charge of sales and distribution across MENA.

Luay Awwad is a Palestinian director with a BFA in filmmaking from Dar Al Kalima University. He has directed several short films, including the award-winning SIRI MIRI, which received the Best Short Film Award at both the Palestine Cinema Days Festival and the Festival Ciné-Palestine in Paris. Awwad has also contributed to several award-winning films, including IN VITRO and the Oscar-nominated THE PRESENT.