“I want everybody to have a discussion”: Mohammed Hammad on Safe Exit at Berlin Film Festival 2026

At Berlin Film Festival 2026, we spoke with director and screenwriter Mohammed Hammad about his poignant film, Safe Exit. Hammad explained his deliberate choice of an analytical, emotionally quiet visual style, meticulously crafted to mirror protagonist Saman’s internal state and the film’s inherent drama. He discussed the complex, paradoxical relationships between characters, highlighting their shared marginalisation in Egyptian society and their crucial role in exploring humanity and coexistence. Of the film’s affecting, open ending, Hammad stated, “I want everybody to have a discussion or think about what will happen,” aiming to provoke thought and encourage audiences to bridge over differences, engaging with the film’s profound questions about choice and circumstance.