GET TO KNOW ME

From Alexandria to Berlin via Abu Dhabi

I’m Adolf El Assal, an Egyptian-Luxembourgish film director, writer, and producer.

My work often blends humour with serious themes, and I’m probably best known for Sawah, a feature film about a DJ who loses his identity and ends up in a country he’s never even heard of. It’s a story that speaks to displacement and belonging—recurring themes in my films, shaped by my own diverse background.

My filmmaking journey really kicked off in 2003 when I directed my first short documentary on Hip Hop culture in Luxembourg. That project opened the door to something I’d been chasing my whole life—cinema. Not long after, I started directing music videos for both up-and-coming and established artists in the UK and beyond.

In 2008, I produced the feature film, Divizionz, which had its world premiere at the Berlinale and went on to travel the globe. Building on that experience, I directed Reste Bien, Mec!, a film that quickly became a cult hit in Luxembourg. That one was a turning point for me—my name’s the only one in the end credits apart from the cast and the composer. It was raw, personal, and completely mine.

That’s when I knew I was ready to go all in and become a full-time film director, writer and producer.

Since earning my MA in Filmmaking, I’ve directed several award-winning short films, including La Fameuse Route… and Mano de Dios. In 2014, I completed my first professional feature, Les (Fameux) Gars aka The Notorious Guys, which found success in French-speaking territories.

Most recently, I co-directed the hit Belgian series Baraki, now streaming on Netflix in France and the Benelux. The show has been both critically acclaimed and widely loved by audiences.

As a producer, I've produced and co-produced over 20 feature films that were screened and awarded at top film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Cairo and Toronto.

I’m also a two-time Berlinale Talents alumni (2006 & 2023), a member of the European Film Academy, and part of networks like EAVE, Directors UK and Screen Leaders.

I'm currently based between Abu Dhabi and Berlin.

You can check out my full filmography on IMDb.