Namir Abdel Messeeh’s “Life After Siham” Between Cairo and Marrakech
○ 02 December 2025
The feature-length documentary “Life After Siham” will be screened at 9:00 PM on Tuesday, December 2nd, within the proceedings of the 11th Continent Program at the Marrakech International Film Festival, in the presence of director Namir Abdel Messeeh. It is the film’s first screening in the Arab Maghreb.
Furthermore, the film has been sold out in the screenings held within the proceedings of the 46th Cairo International Film Festival, with regard to its special screenings. It had its first screening at the 18th Panorama of the European Film, for Zawya on Emad El-Din Street was fully sold out. The second screening will be held next Thursday, December 5th.
Over the past few days, the film received multiple awards, such as the Grand Prize at the Amiens International Film Festival in France. Moreover, it received 3 awards at the Du Grain Festival; it is an independent French film festival. It is often dedicated to documentary films and works that present critical and committed insights towards social and political issues. Basically, it received 3 awards at this festival; the Audience Award, Grand Jury Prize, and a special mention from the Cinema Lovers Committee.
“Life After Siham” is Abdel Messeeh’s second feature-length documentary, running for 76 minutes. It highlights themes of identity, belonging, and memory, through a deep humanitarian approach that touches the viewers’ hearts. The film starts with Namir losing his mother; Siham. She passed away while he was still a child, unaware of the reality of loss. In the childhood world, mothers remain immortal. In order to keep her memory alive, Namir dives into the history of his family in Egypt and France, using references from Youssef Chahine’s cinema, accompanying him on his journey. He highlights the story of alienation and love before anything else. When Siham disappeared, Namir couldn’t imagine that she’s gone forever. According to him, a mother never dies. He starts a journey to discover his family’s history between Egypt and France. Following in the footsteps of the cinema of Youssef Chahine, a story of exile is told, filled with love, lively and immortal.
The film stars Siham Abdel Messeeh, Wajih Abdel Messeeh, Nermin Abdel Messeh, and Namir Abdel Messeeh. It is directed by Namir Abdel Messeeh, produced by Camille Laemle and Namir Abdel Messeeh, shot by Nicolas Duchêne, and edited by Benoît Alavoine and Emmanuel Manzano. The soundtrack is presented by Roman Demey and music by Clovis Schneider. Additionally, the film is an Egyptian-French co-production by Awida Films, and co-produced by Les Films D’Ici, and Red Star, and distributed by Meteore Films and Split Screen.
