This Oscar season, the film Happy Birthday is making waves as Egypt’s submission for the best international feature category at the 2026 Oscars. The coming-of-age drama, directed and co-written by Sarah Goher, tells the poignant story of an eight-year-old maid, portrayed by newcomer Doha Ramadan, who is determined to throw an unforgettable birthday party for her employer’s daughter. The film highlights the themes of class, power, and belonging through the innocent perspective of a child.
Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023, Happy Birthday garnered critical acclaim, winning awards for best international narrative feature and best screenplay, along with the Nora Ephron Award. The movie, produced by Ahmed El Desouky for SkyLimit Production, is a collaboration with Jamie Foxx, who serves as a producer.
Personal Inspiration Behind the Film
Goher’s inspiration for the film stems from her own childhood experiences. Raised in New York and spending summers in Cairo, she recalls befriending a girl who she later realized was her grandmother’s maid. Reflecting on this, Goher remarked, “I thought she was extended family,” revealing the complexities of class disparity that exist within everyday life.
“Child labor is not allowed in Egypt, but there’s this gray area,” she explains, noting that many families have employed children informally. This societal issue became the backbone of Happy Birthday, allowing the film to explore the often-ignored realities of classism through the eyes of a child.
Finding the Right Talent
The casting of the young lead was crucial for Goher. She wanted to ensure that the actress understood the socio-economic background of her character. To achieve this, Goher and her team conducted an extensive casting process, utilizing platforms like Facebook and TikTok, and inviting 60 girls to audition at the Cairo Opera House.
“We had them dressed the same so no one would know who was from a wealthy neighborhood and who wasn’t,” Goher recalls. The auditions included various activities such as dancing, singing, and improvisation, allowing Goher to observe the children’s natural abilities. Young Doha Ramadan emerged as a standout with her creativity and confidence.
Goher emphasizes the importance of collaboration in their work, stating, “I wanted her input into her character, because I did not want to be projecting a story from my imagination about someone like her.”
As production progressed, Goher recognized the need to support Ramadan’s education. Despite memorizing the entire script, including her co-stars’ lines, Ramadan could not read when filming began. Goher arranged for a private tutor to teach her reading and writing and enrolled her in a gifted youth program at the opera house.
“I wanted her to see herself as an artist, because in her socio-economic class, art is not something that’s a priority,” Goher explained.
Through this film, Goher hopes that audiences will connect with Ramadan’s character, Toha, and appreciate her resilience. “She just wants to live her life without a sense of self-pity,” Goher comments, highlighting the universal themes of hope and determination present in the narrative.
The film will screen at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival starting on November 18, 2023, where it is expected to continue sparking conversations about class and societal issues. As Happy Birthday prepares to make its mark on international cinema, it stands as a testament to the power of storytelling in challenging societal norms and celebrating the human spirit.
