" ‘Rock, Paper, Sea’ is a coming-of-age story set by the Egyptian Mediterranean in the summer of 2001. It follows Maha, an 11-year-old girl who learns that her beloved father, who left a year ago to work in Kuwait, will not be returning to Egypt for the holidays. Although the news initially devastates her, Maha—a child with a vivid imagination and a love for mystery books—begins to believe that her father is planning a surprise for her birthday. Convinced that solving the mystery of his absence will reunite them, she embarks on an imaginative quest. Like her father, who gave up his artistic pursuits for a more lucrative job in the Gulf, Maha loves to draw and write stories. Her storytelling is unconventional, free from rigid structures, and when she narrates, the film transforms into a world of black-and-white animation. Maha spends her summer following clues, eventually befriending a boy her age who decides to help her. Together, they explore their coastal town, piecing together a narrative that reflects Maha’s growing understanding of the world around her. Her quest leads to unpredictable discoveries about girlhood, friendship, and the complexities of adulthood. By the end of the summer, as Maha crosses the threshold into adolescence, she experiences her first crush, a deep friendship, and the heartbreak of growing up. Through these moments, she begins to grasp the bittersweet weight of change and the realities of life beyond childhood."