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Oscars: Egypt Selects Amir El-Masry Starrer ‘The Stories’ As Best International Feature Film Entry
Egypt has selected The Stories, directed by Abu Bakr Shawky, as its official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The drama stars British-Egyptian actor Amir El-Masry as an aspiring concert pianist and features Valerie Pachner as an Austrian woman with whom he develops a long-distance friendship that transcends initial family suspicion. The selection represents a significant entry for Egypt in the international film competition.
The film is set against Egypt's turbulent backdrop from the late 1960s to the 1980s and follows the deepening relationship between the pianist and the Austrian girl who encourages his musical aspirations, with the narrative inspired by the true story of director Shawky's own parents' meeting. The Stories is Shawky's third feature following his acclaimed debut Yomeddine (premiered at Cannes in 2018) and the Saudi camel-racing drama Hajjan. The film premiered at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in 2025 and subsequently won the Golden Tanit for Best Film at the Carthage Film Festival, before screening at the Red Sea International Film Festival in December.
In short
- Egypt submits The Stories for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars
- Drama follows pianist and Austrian pen pal's relationship across tumultuous 1960s–80s Egypt
- Film won top award at Carthage Film Festival; director's third feature
Explained simply
The Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards recognises films made outside the United States, with each country choosing a film to represent it. Egypt has a long history of cinema, and its selection enters a process in which submissions are considered before nominees are announced.
The Stories is directed by Abu Bakr Shawky, whose earlier film Yomeddine premiered at Cannes. Its story draws on his parents’ meeting and is set in Egypt from the late 1960s to the 1980s, following an aspiring pianist and his friendship with an Austrian woman.
The film stars British-Egyptian actor Amir El-Masry and Austrian actor Valerie Pachner. Its selection matters to Egypt’s place in the international awards competition and brings a story rooted in Egyptian history to a global film audience.
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