exile captivates audiences at 46th cairo international film festival

The Arab World premiere of EXILE, the searing new workplace thriller by acclaimed Tunisian director Mehdi Hmili, lit up the 46th Cairo International Film Festival with a powerful screening that left audiences inspired. Held at the historic Cairo Opera House, the premiere drew a vibrant mix of cinephiles, critics, and industry figures, all eager to witness the film’s unflinching portrayal of real-life labor struggles and its exploration of alienation and the body as a site of trauma and resistance.

The screening was introduced on stage by members of the film’s cast and crew — including director Mehdi Hmili, producer Moufida Fedhila, lead actors Ghanem Zrelli, Maram Ben Aziza, and Slim Baccar, editor Rawchen Mizouri, music composer Amélie Legrand, and Sherif Fathy of Shift Studios — who shared their excitement with the audience before the lights dimmed.

Among the distinguished guests were Palestinian filmmaker and actress Hiam Abbas and Sudanese actress Eiman Yousif, widely recognized for her acclaimed role in Goodbye Julia.

Following the screening, director Mehdi Hmili took the stage alongside producer Moufida Fedhila, lead actors Ghanem Zrelli, Maram Ben Aziza, and Slim Baccar, for a Q&A that sparked emotional responses and urgent dialogue.

A co-production between Tunisia, Luxembourg, France, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, EXILE follows Mohamed, a steel factory worker who survives a devastating explosion that leaves a slowly rusting piece of metal embedded in his head. Reassigned as a security guard and marginalized by the system, Mohamed embarks on a harrowing journey of revenge that unravels a deeper conspiracy — all while his physical condition deteriorates.

Filming inside a real factory with real workers, director Mehdi Hmili discussed the themes in his film, saying, “EXILE is not only about exile in the literal sense. It speaks of inner estrangement from the body, from history, from one’s place in the world. It is a story of men trapped between memory and machinery, between silence and unraveling. The film does not follow the rules of its genre; it interrogates them and transforms cinema into a space for resistance, reflection, and beauty.”

The film previously had its world premiere to thunderous applause at the 78th Locarno Film Festival, before embarking on a tour of prestigious festivals, including the Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur (FIFF) and the Festival International du Cinéma Méditerranéen de Montpellier (CINEMED).

Produced by Moufida Fedhila under Yol Film House (Tunisia), Mehdi Hmili, Donato Rotunno of Tarantula (Luxembourg), and Michel Balagué under Volte Film (France), EXILE features a stellar cast, including Ghanem Zrelli, Maram Ben Aziza, Slim Baccar, Younes Farhi, Mohamed Kolsi, and Mourad Gharsalli. The film’s cinematography is by Farouk Laaridha, with editing by Rawchen Mizouri and an original score by Amélie Legrand.

The Red Sea Film Festival Foundation and the Doha Film Institute are co-producing the film, with MAD World responsible for worldwide sales and MAD Distribution overseeing its distribution throughout the Arab World.

EXILE received support from CNC Tunisia, CNC France, the Luxembourg Film Fund, the Doha Film Institute, the Francophone Image Fund, La Fabrique Cinéma at Cannes, the Red Sea Fund, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, and France TV. It also garnered four prestigious awards from the CineGouna platform at the El Gouna Film Festival.

Mehdi Hmili is a Tunisian director, screenwriter, and producer whose bold and compelling films have garnered international acclaim. In France, he directed a critically praised black-and-white trilogy exploring themes of love and exile: X-MOMENT (2009), LI-LA (2011), and THE NIGHT OF BADR (2012).

He directed and co-produced STREAMS (2021), which had its world premiere at the 74th Locarno Film Festival. The film received widespread praise and won numerous awards, including Best Actress at the Cairo International Film Festival, Best Director at the Malmö Arab Film Festival, the Jury Prize at the Kolkata International Film Festival, and the Special Jury Prize at the Plurielles Festival in France. Released theatrically in Tunisia, France, and Luxembourg, STREAMS was later acquired by Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Canal+ VOD.

Mehdi Hmili has also served as a jury member, consultant, and mentor at various festivals across Europe and the Arab world, including the Amman International Film Festival.

An alumnus of the prestigious Torino Film Lab and Film Independent’s Global Media Makers program, he is also the showrunner of ALL ABOUT ADAM, a true-story-based series supported by the Series Lab of the Doha Film Institute. As a prominent figure in Tunisia’s cinematic new wave, Hmili continues to champion bold storytelling that resonates globally.