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You might have come across her name many times while scrolling down through your news feed. As unique as her name, Demyana Nassar’s performance in Feathers was also one of a kind. Known as “Om Mario” in her home province of Mallawi in Minya Governorate, her story might inspire you.

Coming from Barsha village, Demyana Nassar is a representation of the saying “Nothing Is Impossible”. Have you ever wondered when will your big dream come true? How will you achieve it? How is that dream even possible when all the odds aren’t in your favour?

via Masrawy

Directed by Omar El Zohairy, the Egyptian movie Feathers has reserved its spot in the biggest international festivals. It has won Grand Prize at Cannes’ International Critics Week and Best Arab Narrative Film at the closing ceremony of El Gouna Film Festival. You must be speechless now, right?

On Sunday, 7^th of November, Feathers brought four more prizes to Egypt from the 32^nd edition of the Carthage Film Festival. Nassar had her share from these prizes, with the Best Female Performance going to her as the movie’s lead actress. When she won, she showed gratitude towards her village and her people in Mallawi, who she always speaks about with pride.

via Asharq Al-Awsat

How did Demyana’s journey flow? Although she has been participating in theatre in Minya, her future brightened when her daughter brought her the fate-changing news that a director in Minya was looking for new faces for his movie.

Demyana’s husband has been encouraging her all the way, even though he thought she was being cast for a supporting role. In a leap of faith from the director, she was cast as the film’s lead actress instead.

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Although the film itself has gained global recognition through international film festivals, some Egyptians had another opinion. Some believe that it has portrayed poverty in Egypt badly, claiming that this isn’t how the situation typically. On the other hand, others believe that the recognition the film gained matters, and have no issues in its presentation.

Despite the varying opinions, the movie has been invading news titles, and we are proud that Egypt is being represented with such an acknowledgement. Hard work always pays off, and we hope to see Demyana Nassar in other roles in Egypt and on the international stage.