THE CLOSING FILM
A life inside
the hierarchy.
Sharaf is a 2021 drama film directed by Samir Nasr and based on the novel by Egyptian writer Sonallah Ibrahim. Sharaf is one of countless young men in the Arab world who hope for a better future. When his life takes a sudden turn, the prison becomes a new social world in which he must navigate power, class and survival.
The microcosm of the prison reflects the complex realities of societies shaped by dictatorship and poverty, while exposing the consequences of a deeply unjust global economic system. As Sharaf seeks social advancement within the prison's rigid class hierarchy, he discovers that moving upward comes at a high price.
Sharaf was nominated for Best Film at the Red Sea Festival 2021 and received Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction and Bronze Tanit at the Carthage Film Festival 2022.