Happy Birthday
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category
Director: Sarah Goher / Egypt / 2025 / 92 min
Arabic / Czech simultaneous translation, English subtitles
16:30 - 18:02
GAC 2 | KFC
08:10 - 09:42
GAC 5 | LIDL
Sarah
Goher
(Egypt/USA) Selected filmography: Happy Birthday (عيد ميلاد سعيد, 2025)
Eight-year-old Toha works as a maid for a wealthy family in Cairo, where she forms a strong bond with Nelly, her employers’ daughter. While Nelly grows up in comfort, Toha helps run the household and tries to fit into a world that is not truly hers. As Nelly’s birthday approaches, Toha does everything she can to prepare an unforgettable celebration. With childlike determination and ingenuity, she plans it all, not fully understanding the boundaries between them. Set in contemporary Cairo, the story captures both childhood innocence and painful awakening. Through their friendship, it reveals the gap between wealth and poverty and shows how fragile relationships can be in an unequal world.
