HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Fresh from Tribeca, Brings Powerful International Storytelling to the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival
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The 2026 Monmouth Film Festival (MFF) is proud to present HAPPY BIRTHDAY, the acclaimed international feature from director Sarah Goher, as part of its 2026 program, screening at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ on Friday, May 29th at 1:15 PM.
(SIFF News. “Happy Birthday - Seattle International Film Festival 2026 Trailer.” YouTube, April 15, 2026.)
Following its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, the film arrives at MFF as one of the most emotionally resonant global entries in this year’s program. Staring celebrated Egyptian actresses Nelly Karim and Hanan Motawie alongside emerging talents Khadija and Doha Ramadan.
In this poignant debut feature, eight-year-old Toha works as a child maid for a wealthy Cairo family and forms a special bond with her employer's daughter, Nelly. Having never celebrated her own birthday, Toha becomes determined to ensure Nelly has a perfect party, secretly hoping to experience the joy she's never known. As Toha's relationship with Nelly's mother, Laila, begins to transcend typical employer-servant boundaries, deep-rooted social hierarchies are threatened, forcing the young girl to confront the harsh realities of class division in modern Egypt.
Through her efforts to bring happiness into someone else’s life, Toha unwittingly begins to challenge the unspoken limits that define her place in the household. The story unfolds with quiet intensity, revealing the emotional cost of those divisions while capturing moments of tenderness, longing, and self-discovery.
Director Sarah Goher crafts a tender yet unflinching examination of privilege through a child's eyes, with Doha Ramadan delivering a heartbreaking performance as Toha. The film's intimate portrayal of innocence colliding with entrenched social structures offers a rare glimpse into contemporary Egyptian society while exploring the universal human desire for connection and celebration across socioeconomic divides.—Nanor Vosgueritchian
The inclusion of HAPPY BIRTHDAY underscores the Monmouth Film Festival’s dedication to elevating international voices and presenting stories that resonate across cultures while illuminating urgent social truths.
To follow our program announcements as they’re released & purchase available tickets - visit: https://monmouthfilmfestival.eventive.org/schedule
To view the MFF 2026 Film Lineup, visit:
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