Happy Birthday (2025 film)
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Mohamed Diab
Ahmed Badawy
Ahmed El Desouky
Jamie Foxx[1]
Datari Turner[1]
Hanan Motawie
Sherif Salama
Ali Sobhi
Doha Ramadan
| Happy Birthday | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sarah Goher |
| Written by | Sarah Goher Mohamed Diab |
| Produced by | Ahmed Abbas Ahmed Badawy Ahmed El Desouky Jamie Foxx[1] Datari Turner[1] |
| Starring | Nelly Karim Hanan Motawie Sherif Salama Ali Sobhi Doha Ramadan |
| Cinematography | Seif El Din Khaled |
| Edited by | Ahmed Hafez |
| Music by | Mina Samy |
Production company | Foxxhole Productions |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | Egypt |
| Language | Egyptian Arabic |
Happy Birthday (Egyptian Arabic: هابي بيرث داي) is a 2025 Egyptian coming-of-age drama film co-written and directed by Sarah Goher in her directorial debut.[2] It stars Nelly Karim, Hanan Motawie, Sherif Salama, Aly Sobhy and Doha Ramadan.[3] It follows an 8-year-old maid who throws a birthday party for her upper-class friend.[4]
Happy Birthday had its world premiere at the 24th Tribeca Film Festival on June 5, 2025,[5] where it was honored with the Best International Narrative Feature Award as well as the Nora Ephron Award and Best Screenplay in an International Narrative Feature.[6] It was selected as the Egyptian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[7]
Cast
- Nelly Karim as Laila
- Doha Ramadan as Toha
- Hanan Motawie as Nadia
- Sherif Salama as Asser
- Ali Sobhi as Toktok Kidnapper
- Hanan Youssef as Grandma
- Khadija Ahmed as Nelly
- Jomana Ibrahim as Fatma
- Fares Mohamed as Fathy
- Hazem Ehab as Cake Shop Cashier
- Samir Gohar as Compound Security
- Gehad Hossam as Clothing Store Seller 1
- Yasmeen El Hawary as Clothing Store Seller 2
- Adel Mohamed as Face Paint Kid at Birthday
- Osama Mahmoud as Amusement Park Security
- Karim Indomy as Car Honker
- Enas Radwan as Street Girl
Release
The film had its world premiere on June 5, 2025, at the 24th Tribeca Film Festival,[9] and then screened on October 16, 2025, at the 8th El Gouna Film Festival.[10]
The film had its commercial premiere on October 16, 2025, in Egyptian theaters.[11]
Accolades
| Award | Ceremony date | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tribeca Film Festival | 12 June 2025 | Best International Narrative Feature | Happy Birthday | Won | [12] |
| Best Screenplay in an International Narrative Feature | Mohamed Diab & Sarah Goher | Won | |||
| Nora Ephron Award | Happy Birthday | Won | |||
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | 11 January 2026 | FIPRESCI Prize for Best International First Feature | Happy Birthday - Sarah Goher | Won | [13] |