Kemet: Year One Heads to Aswan — A Landmark Casting Initiative to Showcase Egypt’s True Diversity

Desert Eagle Films is expanding the search for Egypt’s next great screen talents to Aswan this weekend, marking a major milestone in the casting process for the upcoming prehistoric epic Kemet: Year One.

Following overwhelming participation in Cairo and other governorates, the production team is now traveling south to meet the people whose heritage and features reflect some of the oldest lineages in world history. The Aswan casting call is designed to bring forward authentic faces, bold identities, and the full spectrum of Egyptian diversity rarely represented in mainstream cinema.

Elevating Egypt’s Real Identity

For decades, Egypt’s screen identity has often been confined to a narrow image — one that fails to reflect the richness of its people. Kemet: Year One is rewriting that narrative by pulling talent directly from the communities whose skin tones, features, and ancestry reflect the true story of this land.

“Egypt’s diversity is our greatest strength,” said Mo Ismail. “From Nubian heritage to the tribes of the desert, from the farmers of the Nile Valley to the coastal communities — these are the real faces of ancient Kemet. This film is our chance to honor them.”

Aswan, with its deep cultural roots and powerful presence in Egypt’s national identity, is a defining location for this movement.

Cinema for the People, By the People

The casting team is calling for men and women of all ages, with or without acting experience. What matters most is truth — real human stories, real character, and real connection to Egypt’s ancestral past.

This grassroots talent discovery initiative supports the film’s mission to:

• Break outdated beauty stereotypes

• Reclaim Egypt’s cinematic authenticity

• Empower underrepresented communities

• Bring fresh talent to the forefront of global cinema

Kemet: Year One is not just a film — it’s a cultural restoration.

A Historic Weekend Begins

Aswan’s audition weekend marks the final major step in assembling an ensemble cast unlike anything seen before in Egypt — a cast chosen not from studios or agencies, but from villages, communities, and the living roots of history.

With principal photography approaching and production scaling at a rapid pace, excitement continues to build around what many are calling the defining cinematic project of the new generation.

This weekend, Aswan makes history.

This weekend, Egypt sees itself on screen.

This is Kemet.

And its story begins with its people.