2020/2021 Winners & Shortlists

Write a short summary of what happens in the film

The film displays five different long-distance relationships; mother/son, friends, grandparents/grandkids, an engaged couple, and a small family. Moving on from one story to another and establishing the context of each, we see intimate moments of how much they miss one another’s presence. In each situation, we see them using technology to sustain their closeness while being physically apart. Then, an unexpected surprise visit from those who were away in each situation takes place, finally reuniting everyone after the long wait. To capture emotion more significantly, multiple small intimate gestures were showcased both physically and virtually. From a closeup on a mother’s hands as she embraces her son, to a fiancee’s facial expression talking to her soon-to-be husband, to grandparents’ sudden excitement as they see their grandkids, and family members’ looks of appreciation of the reunion moment they’ve all longed for as they share a meal together.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

Egyptians are social by nature, they’re all about “togetherness”. Even those who live abroad make it a point to visit religiously so as to not miss any important event or gathering, be it summertime season or Ramadan. So imagine their despair when the very thing that fuels their happiness is taken away, with no power to change the circumstances thanks to COVID-19 especially during Ramadan. The time they long for to extend affection and compassion, to connect with loved ones and visit people they don’t see for years on end. Inspired by real experiences and stories from Egyptians living here or anywhere in the world, our message was all about our determination to connect no matter what, by all and any means necessary. Using the power of storytelling, Orange’s role of “bringing you closer to what matters”, and a celebrity-less cast of real people, our message was able to cut-through.