In the heart of a remote village in southern Egypt, a group of young girls dared to dream beyond the confines of their traditional surroundings. “The Brink of Dreams” (رفعت عيني للسما), directed and produced by the talented duo Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir, chronicles the journey of these girls who formed an all-female street theater troupe. Their passion for acting, dancing, and singing led them to challenge societal norms and perform in the streets, capturing the essence of their struggles and aspirations.

Shot over a span of four years, including during the pandemic, this documentary follows the girls from childhood to womanhood, as they navigate crucial life choices. The film is set in Deir El Bersha, a Coptic village in the Minya Governorate known for its rich history and Middle Kingdom tombs.

“The Brink of Dreams” is a groundbreaking film, being the first Egyptian documentary to participate in the Critics’ Week competition at the Cannes Film Festival. It stands out as the only documentary in the competition, vying for the Grand Prize, the Jury Prize, the Best Actor/Actress Award, the Best Screenplay Award, and the Distribution Award. The film shines a spotlight on pressing issues like early marriage, domestic violence, and girls’ education, all through the lens of the troupe’s performances inspired by the folklore of Upper Egypt.

The film stars the Panorama Bersha Theater Troupe, featuring Magda Masoud, Haidi Samah, Monica Youssef, Marina Samir, Mariam Nassar, Lydia Haroun, and Yustina Samir, the founder of the troupe. Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir bring their expertise to this project, having previously showcased their short narrative film “Fakh” at Cannes in 2019 and received special recognition at the Cairo International Film Festival the same year. Their earlier documentary, “Happily Ever After,” was screened at the Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival in 2016, one of the most prestigious documentary festivals in the world.

With executive producer Mohamed Khaled, assistant directors Hames Al-Belshy and Dohaa Hamdy, and cinematographers Dina El Zeniny, Ahmed Ismail, and Ayman El Amir, the film is a collaborative effort showcasing immense talent. The sound was recorded by Mostafa Shaaban, Samah Nabil, Osama Gobiel, and Shadwa Ali, with an original score by Ahmed El Sawi. Editing was handled by Veronique Lagoarde, Ahmed Magdy Morsi, Ayman El Amir, and Nada Riyadh.