MIFF currently screens ‘Sheikh Jackson’, ‘Yomeddine’

CAIRO – 18 August 2018: The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), is currently screening Egyptian films “Sheikh Jackson”, and “Yomeddine” (Judgement Day) in its Middle East and Africa category.

“Sheikh Jackson” stars Ahmed al-Fishawy and revolves around the death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The plotline focuses on an aspiring Imam who loves Jackson’s music and imitates the pop star’s performances. His strong relationship with Salafism reflects the contradictions in his life.



“Sheikh Jackson” was the opening movie for the first edition of El Gouna Film Festival, which took place from Sept. 22 to 29. The film also screened in the 61st London Film Festival, which kicked off on Oct. 4. Egypt has selected Salama’s “Sheikh Jackson” as its candidate for consideration at the upcoming edition of the Oscars, set to take place in February 2018.



The 28th edition of Carthage International Film Festival previously chose the Egyptian Movie “Sheikh Jackson” to represent Egypt in the festival’s official competition.

“Sheikh Jackson” was released in the United States in early 2018. “This is a big milestone in my career, which I have always wished for,” Salama posted at the time.

“Sheikh Jackson” screened for the first time in all Egyptian Cinemas on Oct. 4, 2017.

“Yomeddine” was competing for the Cannes Film Festival’s most prestigious award, the Palm d'Or, which will be announced on Saturday. The official website of Cannes International Film Festival previously announced that the Egyptian feature is also nominated for the Golden Camera award, which is granted each year to the best first-time director at the festival.

The tragic comedy “Yomeddine” revolves around a leprosy patient who escapes from the hospital along with one of his friends in order to search for his family. “Yomeddine” is directed by Egyptian-Austrian director Abu Bakr Shawky, who became the first Egyptian to be invited to the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival.

The 71st Cannes Film Festival held a press conference with the Egyptian filmmakers of “Yomeddine” after its screening at the festival on May 9. The screening was attended by many international actors, including Julianne Moore, Louise Bourgoin and Kiko Mizuhara. All the attendees praised the movie’s construction and drama line, as well as the directing technique adopted by Shawky in his debut feature.

The first Egyptian movie participating in Cannes Film Festival’s main competition managed to grab the attention of all those who watched it. International media platforms were keen to put the spotlight on “Yomeddine”, writing extremely positive reviews about the movie, which presents an innovative mixture of tragedy, comedy, and condensed shots of emotions and sentiments.

In the same context, the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) kicked off on Aug. 3, showcasing a wide variety of movies from all around the world, including the Middle East.

Situated in Melbourne, Australia, the MIFF is an annual event running since 1952, which is one of the oldest film festivals in the world. It presents both exceptional Australian talent and films from all across the world, bringing diversity and culture together under one roof.

Several of the films featured this year include Egyptian crime drama “The Nile Hilton Incident”, by Tarik Saleh, which follows corrupt cop Noredin Mustafa as he investigates the murder of a singer.

Matthew Heineman's “City of Ghosts”, a harrowing documentary about a non-violent group of journalists fighting IS through the internet is also featured. Osamah Sami's “Ali's Wedding”, a romantic comedy about a young Muslim man who moves to Melbourne and falls in love head over heels, is also on the list.