Egyptian filmmaker Sameh Alaa is set to return to the international festival scene with his latest animated short, “The Day I Smoked a Cigarette with My Father.”

The film has been officially selected for the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, taking place from September 10 to 20, 2026, where it will receive its world premiere as part of the Short Cuts program. 🎥🌍

The selection marks another important international milestone for Alaa and adds a new chapter to his growing body of work, which has already earned major recognition at some of the world's most prestigious film festivals.

🎬 The Story Behind the Film

Set in Cairo in 1964, the film follows a 12-year-old boy named Alaa and his three younger siblings.

One day, the children hear shouting and excitement coming from the street. When they look outside, they discover a crowd celebrating the return of a man.

That man is their father, Ibrahim, who has returned home after spending time in prison.

While the younger children react to their father's return with excitement, Alaa experiences something more complicated. The father who suddenly comes back into their lives is not necessarily the same man Alaa remembers, creating a difficult emotional distance between them.

👦 A Story Told Through a Child's Perspective

At the heart of the film is Alaa's perspective.

Rather than presenting the father's return simply as a joyful family reunion, the story explores what happens when a child is confronted with a parent who has been absent for a significant part of his life.

The emotional conflict comes from the gap between what the younger children feel and what Alaa feels.

That difference gives the story a more layered approach to family, memory and trust.

🚬 The Meaning Behind the Title

The title “The Day I Smoked a Cigarette with My Father” immediately suggests a defining moment between father and son.

The cigarette becomes more than an ordinary detail. It can be understood as part of a transitional moment in Alaa's relationship with his father, reflecting the child's attempt to understand a complicated adult world.

Rather than focusing on the act itself, the title points toward a significant emotional encounter and the changing nature of the father-son relationship. 🎭

🎨 Sameh Alaa and Animation

The project represents another step into animation for Sameh Alaa following his previous animated short “S the Wolf – I Will Have the Crown Back on My Head.”

Alaa co-directs the new film with French animation filmmaker Robin Vouters, while Alaa is credited as the screenwriter.

The film is also an international co-production involving Egypt, France and Belgium, reflecting the cross-border nature of the project.

🏆 From Cannes to Toronto

The Toronto selection adds another major international chapter to Sameh Alaa's career.

The Egyptian filmmaker previously participated in TIFF with his short film “Fifteen” in 2017.

His breakthrough came in 2020 when “I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face” won the Palme d'Or for Best Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival, establishing Alaa as one of the most internationally recognized Egyptian filmmakers working in short-form cinema.

His return to Toronto therefore represents more than another festival screening. It reflects the continued development of a filmmaker whose work has consistently focused on intimate stories and distinctive visual approaches.

🌍 World Premiere at TIFF

“The Day I Smoked a Cigarette with My Father” is part of Short Cuts 06, one of the curated sections of TIFF's 2026 lineup.

The Short Cuts program brings together short films from different countries and filmmaking traditions, including animation, live-action narratives, documentaries and hybrid works.

For an Egyptian animated film, the selection provides an opportunity to introduce a Cairo-set story to an international audience while maintaining its local cultural identity.

🇪🇬 An Egyptian Story With Universal Emotions

One of the film's strongest elements is its balance between a distinctly Egyptian setting and universal emotional themes.

The story takes place in Cairo in 1964 and revolves around a family shaped by absence, but the central questions are universal:

What happens when someone returns after being gone for years?

Can a child immediately trust a parent who disappeared?

Can a family return to the way it was before the separation?

These questions allow the film to travel beyond its Egyptian setting and connect with audiences from very different backgrounds. ❤️🌍

🎞️ TIFF 2026 and Major World Premieres

The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival is set to feature a wide range of international cinema from September 10 to 20.

While Alaa's film will premiere within Short Cuts, the festival's opening night will feature Being Heumann, directed by Siân Heder, the filmmaker behind CODA.

TIFF has also announced world premieres of Prima Facie, directed by Susanna White, and The Assassin(s) by South Korean filmmaker Hur Jin-ho as part of the Gala Presentations program.

🔥 Why the Film Matters

The film stands out because it combines several elements: an intimate family story, an Egyptian historical setting, animation and an internationally recognized filmmaker.

It also continues Sameh Alaa's interest in short-form storytelling, while expanding his visual language through animation.

The choice to set the story in 1964 Cairo adds another layer, offering an opportunity to recreate a specific period while focusing on emotions that remain relevant today. 🎨🏙️

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