Friendship and History: A Look at ‘The Stories’ Featuring Amir El-Masry, Nelly Karim, and Valerie Pachner in Late 20th Century Egypt
EXCLUSIVE: British-Egyptian actor Amir El-Masry is among the stars featured at this year’s Red Sea Film Festival, which kicked off its fifth edition on Thursday night.
Taking to the red carpet as the lead in the opening film, the biopic Giant, El-Masry portrays the rise of UK-Yemeni boxing legend Prince Naseem ‘Naz’ Hamed. He is also competing with the title The Stories.
The Stories marks the third feature from Egyptian writer-director Abu Bakr Shawky, who gained recognition with his first film, Yomeddine, which debuted in Cannes competition in 2018, followed by the Saudi-set camel racing drama Hajjan.
In The Stories, El-Masry plays an aspiring Egyptian concert pianist who forms a connection with an Austrian girl in 1967 through a pen pal scheme. Their burgeoning long-distance friendship faces skepticism from his family.
Against a backdrop of Egypt’s turbulent years from the late 1960s to the 1980s, his friend’s encouragement helps him navigate his humble beginnings while striving toward his musical dreams.
The cast also includes Karim Kassem, Ahmed Kamal, Sabry Fawaz, Sherif El Dessouky, Khaled Mokhtar, Ahmed El Azaar, and Amr Abed.
Production companies involved in the film include Cinenovo, Film Clinic, Lagoonie Film Production, Film Square, Shofha Productions, Film AG, Fox in the Snow, and Wrong Men.
