Building on an illustrious career spanning over 25 years, award-winning editor Ahmed Hafez—renowned for breaking ground with unforgettable work across commercial blockbusters like THE BLUE ELEPHANT film series, art house gems such as INSHALLAH A BOY, and international productions including Marvel’s MOON KNIGHT—now takes a bold leap forward by founding STORY, a post-production company.
Dedicated to delivering high-grade technical and creative services for cinematic, television, and advertising projects, STORY positions itself as a dynamic hub for high-end post-production driven by a passion for storytelling, a commitment to international standards, and access to world-class facilities.
STORY offers a comprehensive range of high-end services, including 4K editing across multiple team-equipped suites, HDR color grading, theatrical-ready sound mixing with Dolby Atmos—a rare feature in Egypt—and visual effects.
Currently utilizing its advanced capabilities for giant projects like HEPTA: PART TWO in collaboration with an Italian colorist, STORY introduces technical offerings previously unseen in the local industry.
Beyond servicing major productions, the company is dedicated to acting as a launchpad for the next generation of creators, serving as a hub for films, series, and commercials edited by diverse talents.
Off to a great start, STORY already has a roster of projects in the making. These include HAPPY BIRTHDAY by Sarah Goher, starring Nelly Karim—Egypt’s official submission to the 98th Academy Awards and the first Egyptian film to win three consecutive awards at the Tribeca Film Festival—which will also open the 8th El Gouna Film Festival. Also in the lineup is Mohamed Siam’s MY FATHER’S SCENT, starring Ahmed Malek, which earned five awards at the Final Cut in Venice.
Other notable titles include Marwan Hamed’s highly anticipated biopic EL SETT, centered on Egyptian icon Umm Kulthum and starring Mona Zaki alongside a cast of A-listers; Hepta2: THE LAST DEBATE by Hadi El Bagoury, a fresh take on modern love that builds on the legacy of the 2016 blockbuster HEPTA: THE LAST LECTURE; and the upcoming epic historical film ASSAD, by Moon Knight’s Mohamed Diab and led by Mohamed Ramadan, with a powerhouse cast including Razane Jammal, Khaled El Sawy, and more, with even more projects in the pipeline.
The launch of STORY is a natural progression for Hafez, whose distinguished two-decade career uniquely blends commercial blockbusters, acclaimed arthouse cinema, and Oscar-submitted titles, culminating in his work on episodes three and four of Marvel's MOON KNIGHT, directed by Mohamed Diab.
He has consistently supported new voices through collaborations with first-time directors, receiving over 25 local and international accolades, including awards from the Carthage, Cairo, Bosphorus, and Alexandria Mediterranean Film Festivals. Hafez was also inducted into the American Cinema Editors Society and served as a jury member at the Cairo International Film Festival.
His portfolio features festival triumphs like Amjad Al-Rasheed's INSHALLAH A BOY, the first Jordanian film to premiere at Cannes, where it won the Gan Foundation and Rail D’Or awards and was selected as Jordan’s official submission for Best Foreign Film at the 96th Academy Awards, screening at over 30 prestigious festivals worldwide and winning around 14 awards.
Additionally, his impressive slate includes CLASH, which premiered in the 69th Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard and earned him three awards from the Carthage Film Festival, Cairo Film Society Festival, and Egyptian National Film Festival, as well as Egypt’s 96th Academy Awards submission VOY! VOY! VOY!.
He has collaborated extensively with Marwan Hamed and Ahmed Mourad on Egypt’s top-grossing films, including THE BLUE ELEPHANT (2014), THE ORIGINALS (four awards), DIAMOND DUST (Best Editing at the Arabian Cinema Awards), THE BLUE ELEPHANT: DARK WHISPERS (EGP 102M), and KIRA & EL GIN (EGP 118M), based on Mourad’s bestseller 1919.
Hafez’s ongoing collaboration with director Hadi El Bagoury includes HEPTA: THE LAST LECTURE, the highest-grossing romantic film in Egyptian cinema history, with revenues exceeding EGP 27 million, and AMAR 14, which earned him Best Editing awards at both the Cairo Film Society and the Egyptian Catholic Film Festival.
The talented editor is also recognized for his prolific work on Ramadan series and platform originals, including TAHT EL WESAYA, which earned Best Editing at the second Cairo Drama Festival; TAREEQY, GRAND HOTEL, LA TOTTFE' AL SHAMS, EVERY WEEK HAS A FRIDAY, TAYEA, and Netflix's first-ever original Egyptian series, PARANORMAL, as well as the mini-series SAFAH EL GIZA on Shahid.
