Amsterdam director Ashgan El-Hamus (33) filmed Al Baraneya, now showing in Venice, in her family's village with her family: I felt incredibly responsible

Amsterdam-based director Ashgan El-Hamus has premiered her new film, Al Baraneya, at the Venice Film Festival. The project originated from the filmmaker's visits to her extended family in the Egyptian village of the same name. Inspired by the collective living arrangement she witnessed, El-Hamus sought to capture both the intimacy of multi-generational households and the internal tensions faced by those living within them. She chose to cast her own relatives as the core family, blending professional acting with the authentic presence of her own family members to maintain the project's integrity.

Developing the film presented unique challenges, particularly the need to protect her relatives while maintaining creative control. El-Hamus cast professional actress Reem Amer to portray the central character of Amal, allowing for greater creative freedom in sensitive scenes. Throughout the production, the director faced intense pressure to balance the well-being of her cast and crew, eventually learning that showing vulnerability helped bridge the gap between her diverse teams and facilitated a more honest, collaborative environment on set.