Egyptian film picked for prestigious Cannes competition

A documentary about a group of young, disenfranchised Coptic Christians in Egypt who form an all-female theatre troupe is among the selection for Critics' Week, a competition for new directors at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Critics Week focuses on directors making their first or second films and helped filmmakers like Britain's Ken Loach and France's Julia Ducournau gain international renown.

Rafaat Einy ll Sama (On the Brink of Dreams) is among the 11 films that made this year's selection.

The coming-of-age documentary was directed by Egyptian duo Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir. It was filmed over four years.

Coptic Christians are a significant minority in Egypt, with between six and 11 million members of the Church. They said they face discrimination and play a lesser part in Egyptian public life than their numbers justify.

The 77th Cannes Film Festival began on Sunday in France and will run until 25 May.