Filmmakers behind the Cannes title Eagles of the Republic have called for the immediate release of actor Hassan El Sayed, who is being detained in Egypt after returning to the country. The producers warn that his arrest over a fleeting screen appearance raises urgent questions about artistic freedom and the safety of international collaborators.
The film’s creative team—led by producers Linus Stöhr Torell, Johan Lindström, Linda Mutawi and Alexandre Mallet-Guy, with co-producers Monica Hellström, Misha Jaari and Mark Lwoff and executive producer Emil Wiklund—addressed a formal letter to Prosecutor‑General Mohamed Shawky Ayyad, arguing that El Sayed’s detention is unjustified and harmful. In the letter the group expresses alarm at reports of restricted legal access, a period of enforced disappearance, and the toll the detention has taken on the actor’s mental health.
Human rights group Amnesty International has echoed those demands. According to its account, El Sayed, an Egyptian national and long-term Danish resident, was arrested at Cairo International Airport on 20 December 2025. Authorities reportedly questioned him about his brief part in the film—he appears on screen for roughly 20 seconds as a priest—and a prosecutor ordered pretrial detention while investigators probe an allegation that he knowingly joined a designated terrorist group.
Eagles of the Republic premiered at Cannes in May and stars Fares Fares in a story about a celebrated actor coerced into portraying Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah El‑Sisi, in a vanity project. The production team stresses that El Sayed’s involvement was minimal: he had no editorial control, limited knowledge of the script and did not shape the film’s message.
Producers say the case raises a broader principle: criminalizing participation in a creative work—especially for a non-political, minor role—sets a troubling precedent for artists and crews who work across borders.
- Immediate and unconditional release of Hassan El Sayed
- Withdrawal of all charges against him
- Unrestricted access for his legal counsel and family
- Assurances for his safe return to his home in Denmark
The letter was submitted to Ayyad, the country’s top prosecutor who was appointed by President El‑Sisi in 2023 and earlier served as an assistant minister of justice. Its signatories ask for an expedited, transparent resolution.
Amnesty has also provided a template letter for supporters and notes that El Sayed is being held at the 10th of Ramadan prison. The rights group reports his lawyer has been largely prevented from private visits—limited to online hearings—and that his family, who last saw him on 14 March, say his physical health is stable but his psychological state has suffered.
El Sayed’s résumé includes more than a dozen screen credits listed on industry databases, with roles in Cairo Conspiracy (2022), The Charmer (2017) and Flow (2014).
The dispute is likely to intensify scrutiny of how states treat cultural projects that touch on political figures. For the international film community, the case underscores a practical risk: even small roles can carry unforeseen legal exposure when movies address sensitive subjects. How Egyptian authorities respond will carry immediate consequences for artists working in and with the country.
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Hello, I’m Declan. I share my film reviews and discoveries with you to enrich your moviegoing experience.