Egyptian director's film wins Cannes festival's Critics' Week prize

A film directed by an Egyptian won a prize at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.

Feathers, directed by Omar el-Zohairy, won the French film festival's Critics' Week grand prize.

The plot of the film – el-Zohairy's first feature-length film – revolves around the mother of a poor family tired of the monotony in her life. Her life and responsibilities to her family change when a magic trick goes wrong and her husband is turned into a chicken.

The film, produced with European assistance, was received by a standing ovation from the audience.

The 33-year-old's Critics' Week victory won him a 15,000 euro ($17,763) prize.

El-Zohairy studied at Cairo's High Cinema Institute and worked as an assistant director for some of Egypt's most prominent filmmakers.

His second short film, The Aftermath of the Inauguration of the Public Toilet on Kilometer 375, was up for consideration at Cannes' Cinefondation prize in 2014.

The Cannes Film Festival continues until July 17. The winners of the festival's biggest prizes are announced in its last few days.