HBFF: Happy Birthday followed by Q&A

Eight-year-old maid Toha goes against all odds to make sure her best friend Nelly, the daughter of her wealthy employer, has the perfect birthday party. While out shopping with Nelly’s mother, the social boundaries blur, forcing Toha to confront the harsh realities of class in modern-day Cairo. This is a tender yet unflinching examination of privilege through a child’s eyes, with Doha Ramadan delivering a spellbinding performance as Toha. The film offers a window into contemporary Egyptian society while exploring the universal human desire for connection and celebration across socioeconomic divides.