INTERVIEW with Tommy Sherif

How long have you been doing movies? How did you decide to start making movies?

I always wanted to make films, my first feature film was Taha, and I started shooting it on 2023, even though we released it on 2025. We had a lot of production problems.
However, I studied cinematography back in Egypt, between 2008 to 2010.
I also made documentaries between 2017-2018, and I am a theater maker since 2018.

I decided to make films back in 2008, as I saw Rambo 4 in theater, mid night show in Cairo downtown, after the film I decided to study scriptwriting and write films.

And here I am.

Why did you do this project?

My group and I, we make films to express people’s pain. Syrians have been through a lot of pain, and a lot of film makers have expressed this struggle through a lot of stories and a lot of perspectives, so I was thinking about the psychological state and how bad it was affected by the war and what happened in Syria, so I thought to represent a story from the Syrian pain, a story that haven’t been told.

(If you can say). How much budget did you have to do this project?

Around 15,000 Euro

Was it self-funded or did you get budget/producers/investors?

Mainly self-funded.

How long did it take from the initial idea to being able to release?

There is a story behind that.
The idea of the film came up in my head in December 2024, I started to work on it with the DOP Kathafi, However in February 2025, I was very sick, I was in a coma for 11 days, and I had to rebuild my life style again, few months after that I stood up on my feet again, not 100% fit, but we could manage to make the film, we started the shooting in September and finished in October.

Are you happy with the result?

Very much, according to what we had, it was excellent.

So happy with the actors and every member in the crew, I wanna thank everyone of them.

I am also very happy because in the film, I have worked with my students as I literally taught them filming, my mates who started with me or few years before me and also my teacher Peter Pluymaekers

What phase is this project in right now? Are you in the initial phase of sending it to festivals, middle phase or finishing the circuit?

The film is now in the phase of submitting to film festivals, we have one prices in 2 festivals already, for best film and best supporting actress, even best film poster. And we are still in the phase. Also we are now busy to organize a screening tour in the Netherlands and in Europe.

How has your experience been with the festivals so far? Where do you think they should improve?

More credibility, some festivals are using there festivals as a business. Maybe if they really giving it more love and spirit it will be better, I like the idea that you really give a space to the film submitted in your festival. That is amazing. Some festivals don’t even make the event. And that can be improved.

Could you tell us which platforms you use to submit your entries to festivals?

Film Freeway is the main platform

Normally, filmmakers use many references, favorite directors, favorite movies, etc. Were you inspired by any director or film? If so, tell us your references.

Mainly I got inspired by an artist but not a film maker “Michael Jackson”

But as a film maker I would say “Martin Scorsese”, as a writer “William Shakespeare” as an actor “Robert Di Nero”

Your favorite movie?

The Godfather and Scent of a woman

Favorite series?

The walking dead till season 5

Prison break till season 4
Dexter till season 8

Do you see yourself making movies in 5 years? Where do you see yourself?

I will make films till the last day in my life
I will build studios in several places around the word.
I will go to Hollywood at least one time.

Do you have any other project in mind?

I am already working on 4 projects, 2 short films, 1 mid film and one long film. These films will be in the next 14 months.
The good thing is I’m not just a director, I am also a writer, a producer and an actor, and that give me the chance to do a lot.

What do you ask for the future? (cinematographically speaking)

More health to be able to fulfill my dreams

More money of course to be able to make better films

Inspire more people

What I also ask for is the blessing from God, and the pride of my family

Your best experience in a movie theater?

During the screening of my first film, it was really a tragic film, the whole theater was crying, and there were a lot of nationalities back there, that was an impressive feeling.