Back from the Croisette and still processing what just happened.
Eagles of the Republic- the final chapter in Tarik Saleh's Cairo Trilogy- had its world premiere in main competition at the 78th Festival de Cannes, nominated for the Palme d'Or. Sold-out screenings, a packed premiere, a ten-minute standing ovation, and a wave of incredible reviews. The festival was buzzing with conversations about the film, and strangers kept stopping us to share what it meant to them.
It is, without question, one of the most meaningful moments of my career.
The Film
Eagles of the Republic follows George Fahmy, Egypt's most celebrated actor, who is coerced by the country's highest authorities into starring in a propaganda biopic glorifying the president. What begins as an impossible situation spirals into something far more dangerous. It is a story about power, corruption, the manipulation of art, and the cost of resistance.
The film features an extraordinary international cast: Fares Fares, Lyna Khoudri, Amr Waked, Zineb Triki, Cherien Dabis, Sherwan Haji, and Suhaib Nashwan, among others. The score is by Alexandre Desplat. Together they brought something remarkable to life.
Years of work go into a film like this, from the development, the financing across multiple countries, the production challenges of shooting in Istanbul to stand in for Cairo, the delicate work of telling a politically charged story about Egypt's regime with authenticity and nuance. When you finally sit in a darkened theatre and watch an audience experience it for the first time- in Cannes, of all places- it is hard to put into words what that feels like.
Gratitude
I am deeply grateful to Tarik Saleh for inviting me to be part of making history with him, and to my fellow producers Johan Lindström, Linus Stöhr Torell, and Alexandre Mallet-Guy... what a team! Thank you to Unlimited Stories and to every partner and financier who believed in this project and helped make it possible.
Standing on the steps of the Palais des Festivals, all I could feel was an overwhelming sense of joy and pride. This is what I got into this industry to do. I can't wait to see where this journey takes us next.
Eagles of the Republic premiered in main competition at the 78th Festival de Cannes on May 19, 2025. The film is produced by Unlimited Stories, Apparaten, and Memento Production. It will be released across the Nordics via SF Studios and in France via Memento later this year.
