During the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual screenings at film festivals allowed greater access for African professionals and audiences, but this trend ended as physical screenings resumed. Tribeca is one of the few festivals continuing to support virtual components. Although the offerings at Tribeca are shrinking, they provide significant opportunities for discovery. One standout film at Tribeca this year, Happy Birthday, directed by Sarah Goher, explores contemporary Egyptian class disparities through the story of a young girl working as a maid, ultimately winning several awards including the best international narrative feature.
The virtual screenings during the Covid-19 pandemic briefly lifted long-standing barriers for African professionals and audiences at film festivals, but this democratization was short-lived as festivals returned to physical gatherings.
Tribeca stands out as a major festival that continues to support its virtual platform, allowing media and audiences to discover new and unlikely films despite a general decline in virtual offerings.
Happy Birthday, directed by Sarah Goher, is a poignant film that critiques class and economic disparity in contemporary Egypt through the eyes of an eight-year-old girl, Toha.
The film captures the complex relationship between Toha and a wealthy family's daughter and serves as a biting social commentary on the preservation of social hierarchies.
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