EXCLUSIVE: Egyptian and American filmmaker Sam Abbas has unveiled upcoming picture Europe’s New Faces capturing the migrant experience, from crossing the Mediterranean Sea out of Libya to settling in Paris-based squats.
The observational work is the fruit of three years of filming migrant communities living illegally in abandoned buildings across Paris, as well as on the work of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) rescue ship Geo Barents, which operated across the Mediterranean from June 2021 until late 2024, saving 12,675 people in 190 operations.
“Making this film I spent close to three years with migrants in different capacities and got a glimpse into a world so different from my own that it’s hard to fully comprehend. A world with constant and never-ending challenges. A world in which socially, the isolation is profound,” said Abbas.
“Surrounded by cultural and language divides, they face stereotypes and biases that keep them from feeling welcome, leaving many to shoulder the weight of loneliness. Everyday tasks, like renewing documents or seeking basic rights, turn into endless battles with bureaucracy that never end.”
The film explores multiple aspects of the migrant experience from the constant threat of legal action to facing exploitation in the workplace due to lack of documentation, and the struggle to find a place to live.
“I saw squats made from buildings you can’t even imagine – old abandoned banks, post offices, corporate offices, the list goes on. Spaces where the only way to wash is to take a bucket and go outside. Witnessing their resilience despite facing these almost unimaginable hardships has made me realize how truly different and challenging their lives are,” said Abbas
At sea, Abbas witnessed rescue operations firsthand and interviewed people about their perilous journeys in makeshift, overcrowded vessels.
“It’s a reality that many of us never see, and this film brings a deep respect for their strength and courage. Audiences will witness a rarely seen side of Europe, where the harsh struggles of migrants collide with the excessive abuse from authorities. This film ultimately paints a vivid observational picture of the various difficulties migrants face,” said the director.
The feature – which is is produced by Abbas under the banner of his company Maxxie, Suzzee & Cinema – also features music by French La Bête and Saint Laurent filmmaker and composer Bertrand Bonello. It is executive produced by Randleson Floyd.
Abbas is currently working on post-production for a Q4, 2025 launch.
The work builds on Abbas’ recently-release seven-minute, short film Obstaculum capturing people from the Ivory Coast, Gambia, Senegal, Sudan, Chad, Eritrea, and Ethiopia as they attempt occupy an abandoned Paris art school.
Abbas previously made waves with his 2018 LGBT-themed The Wedding, starring Nikohl Boosheri, for which he organized under the radar screenings in a number of countries where homosexuality is banned such as Turkey, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Egypt.
His second feature Alia’s Birth, starring Poorna Jagannathan, also hit the headlines for a dramatic scene showing a neonatal resuscitation. He also released a complementary short titled Marie about home birth labor which hit over four million views across various platforms.