28 Feb Congratulations Aya Yusuf – EuroDoc25 acceptance and participation
IEFTA Alumni Aya Yusuf has been selected as one of 40 participants for EuroDoc25’s cohort! EuroDoc is a fantastic international program for documentary production mentorship. Taking place over 8 months, this years’ EuroDoc will see participants attending residential sessions in Biella (Italy), Ljubljana (Slovenia), and Cork (Ireland). IEFTA will support Aya on her journey by providing participation fees and a travel scholarship.
Aya Yusuf (Egypt)
Aya Yusuf is an Egyptian producer, director, and editor, and the co-founder of Shoghl Cairo Pictures, a company focused on bold, socially engaged documentaries. She is currently producing two feature projects: Dry Sky and A Butterfly Hug. Dry Sky was pitched at the IDFA Forum, where it won the Best Pitch Award, and is currently participating at Eurodoc 2025.
Aya has over a decade of experience as a director and editor in the documentary field. Her directorial debut Samar… Before the Final Picture premiered at Ismailia IFF (2024), won the Special Jury Prize at Sousse IFF (2025), and has screened at several international festivals. As an editor, she has worked on numerous creative documentaries across the region, bringing a strong sense of narrative structure, emotional rhythm, and visual sensitivity to each project. Her work explores themes of identity, silence, and the unseen struggles shaping everyday life.
Learn more about the multitalented Aya Yusuf through her IMDB or keep up to date with her activity through Instagram.
| Project Title: | Dry Sky, Don’t Rain |
| Countries of Production: | Sudan, Egypt |
| Current production status: | Development |
| Estimated Length: | 85 min |
Synopsis: On his way back to his hometown, Ibrahim endeavors to build what he has dreamt of all his life. However, he faces a fate intertwined with the memories of the past in the village. Alongside his
friend and their donkey, he strives relentlessly to break free from this constraint.