Ely Dagher’s film The Sea Ahead had a screening at El Gouna Film Festival, where it competes at the Feature Narrative Competition. The film’s screening witnessed a great attendance of public figures and members of the press, in the presence of the film’s director as well as Manal Issa and Yara Abou Haidar from the cast, and producer Myriam Sassine.

In addition, media and public figures attended the screening. The film received positive feedback from the audience in the hall after the show.

Previously landing its world premiere at the 74th Cannes Film Festival’s Directors' Fortnight, The Sea Ahead marks the feature debut of Ely Dagher who has won the Palme d’Or award for his short film Waves 98 only to become the first Lebanese film to ever receive such an award.

The Sea Ahead received numerous prizes during its development, including Best Film in Post-production at the Final Cut In Venice workshop; CineGouna platform’s award for best project in development phase; and a financial award from Drosos Foundation, in addition to grants from AFAC-Arab Funds For Arts and Culture, Doha Film Institute, Red Sea Fund, among others.

The film follows Jana, who returns to Beirut after having been away for a long time. Suddenly, she finds herself reconnecting with the familiar yet strange life she had once left behind.

Directed and written by Ely Dagher The Sea Ahead, his feature debut, stars Manal Issa,
Yara Abou Haidar, Rabih El Zaher and Roger Azar. The film is produced by Andolfi (Arnaud Dommerc), in association with Beachside, and co-produced by Abbout Productions (Myriam Sassine); Wrong Men and Beaver and Beaver. The film is distributed in the Arab world by MAD Solutions.

Beirut based Ely Dagher graduated with an MA in Contemporary Art Studies and New media from Goldsmiths College in London. His work explores the correlation and possibilities created through the play between cultures, histories and fiction.