Mohammed Hammad's feature film "Safe Exit" continues its global festival circuit, currently screening in France as part of the Official Feature Competition at the 48th Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival (CINEMED 2026). Its first screening took place on Saturday evening at Pathé Comédie in the director's presence, while a second screening is scheduled at the same cinema on Thursday, October 22, at 10:00 AM.

Official poster for the movie Safe Exit
The official poster for Mohammed Hammad's "Safe Exit"

Hammad, however, will miss the second screening as he heads back to Egypt for the film's Middle Eastern premiere at the 9th El Gouna Film Festival. Competing in the Feature Narrative Competition as the sole Egyptian entry, the film will hold its single festival screening on October 20 at 7:00 PM at the El Gouna Conference and Culture Centre.

Actor Marwan Walid in a scene from Safe Exit
A still from "Safe Exit"

Joining Hammad at the premiere will be producer Kholoud Saad, cast members Marwan Walid, Rodaina Fouad, Youssef Meseilhi, and Hazem Essam, sound designer Ahmed Jaber, and editor Dina Farouk. A press conference for the film is scheduled for October 21 at 11:30 AM.

The lead actor leaning against a wall in a cinematic still
The protagonist Samaan in "Safe Exit"

Throughout October, the film took part in numerous international festivals, including the 28th Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival in Brazil within the "Expectations" section, as well as the 53rd FEST International Film Festival in Belgrade, Serbia, within its International Competition.

A scene from Safe Exit framed by mascot costume heads
A scene from "Safe Exit"
Filming a street scene at night in Cairo for Safe Exit
Behind the scenes filming "Safe Exit" in downtown Cairo

Alongside its international festival journey, Mohammed Hammad's "Safe Exit" secured another milestone with a nomination for Best Screenplay at the 19th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), often referred to as the "Asian Oscars." The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 30, 2026, in Gold Coast, Australia.

Director Mohammed Hammad watching the camera monitor
Director Mohammed Hammad on set
Film crew reviewing takes on monitor during production
The crew reviewing takes during filming

Spanning screenings across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, the film continues to expand its global footprint across four continents. From its beginnings in Berlin to Shanghai, via Milan, Cologne, Rio de Janeiro, and Belgrade, and on to El Gouna and Montpellier, "Safe Exit" has traversed eight international film festivals, accompanied by its APSA Best Screenplay nomination—cementing the standing of Egyptian cinema internationally and drawing acclaim for its distinct cinematic vision.

Actor Marwan Walid sitting by a fire in a night shot
A night scene from "Safe Exit"

Written and directed by Mohammed Hammad, "Safe Exit" stars newcomers Marwan Walid, Rodaina Fouad, and Hazem Essam alongside veteran actress Magda Mounir. Produced by Pareidolia Productions, the film follows Samaan, a young Coptic man working as a security guard in a downtown Cairo building who suffers from chronic post-traumatic stress disorder following the violent death of his father in an accident.

Director Mohammed Hammad pointing to a monitor during shooting
Mohammed Hammad reviewing footage on set