MAD Solutions has recently announced the acquisition of '60 Pounds', a film loosely based on a Ziad Zaza song.
El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) has selected the Egyptian short film 60 Pounds, written and directed by Amr Salama, to open its sixth edition, scheduled to run from October 13 to 20. This reportedly marks the first time in Arab film festival history that a short film has been chosen as the festival opener.
60 Pounds is a collaboration between Amr Salama and emerging Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza, who makes his acting debut in the film. The short will compete in the GFF’s short film competition, making its world premiere on this platform.
MAD Solutions recently announced its acquisition of 60 Pounds, a film loosely inspired by a Ziad Zaza song of the same name. The film tackles the sensitive issue of domestic abuse, a subject of great importance to both Salama and Zaza. They aimed to shed light on this issue through striking cinematography, immersive visual storytelling, and raw performances by Ziad Zaza and the rest of the cast.
Reflecting on the creation of the short film, Salama described it as a ‘passion project.’ He remarked, “Working on 60 Pounds was a liberating and refreshing experience. As a follower and fan of the Egyptian hip-hop scene, I was amazed by its grassroots authenticity. I was curious to explore this art form and the background of its leading artists and to add the storytelling element to it in order to take this authenticity and turn it into a compelling story.”
60 Pounds follows the journey of aspiring rapper Ziad and his family, who have endured the torment of his abusive father for far too long. When tensions escalate to a breaking point, Ziad takes it upon himself to put an end to his family’s suffering once and for all.
The short film was produced by Beatroot Records (Omar Gawdat, Ismail Nosrat, Islam Mahdy) and Cinerama Films (Omar El Safi), with cinematography by Ahmed Tarek Bayoumi, editing by Ahmed Hafez, and features a cast including trap artist Ziad Zaza, Tarek El-Deweri, Hamza Diab, and Rawheya Salem.
Ziad Zaza has established himself in Egypt’s rap scene due to his unique approach to drill music. Since the release of his debut album EL RAYS, the musician developed a cult-like following, due to his unconventional delivery and bold singing style.
Amr Salama, the filmmaker behind 60 Pounds, is an Egyptian screenwriter and director who was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
