Berlinale: MAD World Takes on Sales for Mohammed Hammad’s Berlin Psychological Thriller ‘Safe Exit’

MAD World Takes on Mohammed Hammad’s "Safe Exit" for Berlinale Premiere

Cairo-based MAD World, the film sales division of Mad Solutions, has acquired "Safe Exit," a psychological thriller directed by Mohammed Hammad, ahead of its world premiere at the Berlinale this February.

This marks Hammad’s second feature, following his acclaimed female-centric drama "Withered Green," which debuted in Locarno and earned him the Best Director award at the Dubai Film Festival in 2016.

"Safe Exit" tells the story of a young security guard in Cairo grappling with the trauma stemming from the murder of his parents during a wave of religious and ethnic violence a decade earlier.

The film was recently included among the new titles announced for the Berlinale’s Panorama line-up. "Safe Exit" is a coproduction involving Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Qatar, and Germany, with Hammad and Kholoud Saad producing under their joint venture, Pareidolia Productions. The project also includes Tunisian indie powerhouse Dora Bouchoucha of Nomadis Images, known for "Aisha Can’t Fly Away."

Hammad shared, “I co-founded Pareidolia Productions with Kholoud Saad to produce self-funded independent films that explore complex social questions rarely addressed in Egyptian cinema. Our second film, ‘Safe Exit,’ examines the factors and beliefs that can lead to acts of violence carried out in the name of religion.”

The coproducers include Egypt’s Dina Farouk of Wika Productions, associated with “Daughters of Abdulrahman,” and Ibrahim El Batout, known for "Hawy." Additionally, Germany-based Palestinian producer Mai Odeh joins as an associate producer.

Farouk, who has collaborated closely with the late director Mohammed Khan on titles like “Factory Girl” and “Before The Summer Crowds,” expressed her connection to Hammad’s film. “’Safe Exit’ spoke to me as a film about the quiet aftermath of violence—what happens long after the headlines fade. Mohammed Hammad approaches trauma not as spectacle, but as something lived, inherited, and deeply personal,” she commented. “Being part of a project that confronts these lingering wounds with such sensitivity and cinematic confidence felt both urgent and necessary.”

The film features a cast that includes Marwan Waleed, Noha Foad, and Hazem Essam. Key crew members consist of cinematographer Mohammed El Sharqawy, editor Farouk, and sound designer Mohamed El Tawil.

Hammad’s filmmaking career began with the short film "The Fifth Pound" in 2006, with notable works preceding "Withered Green" including "Central," "Pale Red," and "Abdu Fanous."

MAD World’s co-founders, Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, commented on their decision to support the project: “Mohammed Hammad has already proven himself as a filmmaker with a distinct voice and a rare command of tone and character. After the international journey and acclaim of ‘Withered Green,’ it was clear that ‘Safe Exit’ was coming from a director operating at a very high level.” They added, “With an exceptionally skilled crew and a production team we trust deeply, picking up the film was an easy decision. ‘Safe Exit’ is a confident, accomplished work, and we’re proud to be supporting its path to Berlin and beyond.”