Doha Film Institute
  • ▪
  • Log in
Cinema Alkhaleej Short Film Programme
Hours before her graduation party, all of Dunya’s household help walk out. With only her two friends to lend a hand, can she still throw a flawless party?
In an affluent suburb of Riyadh, Dunya has planned her graduation party down to the last samosa. But hours before her esteemed guests arrive, all of the domestic help take off, fed up with “Madame” Dunya’s antics. Aided only by her two loyal sidekicks, Deema and Dalal, she must cook, clean and stay perfectly poised, all while protecting the social status she has worked so hard to earn. A sharp, funny portrait of a flawed but fierce young woman.

Credits

Director
Raed Alsemari
Screenwriter
Raed Alsemari
Producer
Sarah Elnawasrah, Raed Alsemari
Cinematographer
Olivier Theurillat
Editor
Olivier Theurillat, Raed Alsemari
Cast
Sara Balghonaim, Rahaf, Sarah Altaweel, Ida Alkusayer

About the Director

Raed Alsemari
Raed Alsemari is an award-winning filmmaker from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His short ‘Dunya’s Day’ premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Jury Award for International Fiction, qualified for the 2020 Academy Awards and toured more than 60 festivals. He produced Sara Balghonaim’s short ‘Me & Aydarous’, winner of two jury awards at the 2024 Saudi Film Festival. He holds an MFA in