Fact sheet
Genre: Feature Documentary
Duration: 110 min
Production Countries: Egypt, USA, South Africa
Filming Countries: Egypt & South Africa
Produced by: SEERA FILMS
Co-Produces by: Aljazeera, Lagoonie Film Production, Wild Charles
Synopsis
Many years after his research began, Egyptian environmental researcher Mohamed Ezzat returns to Lake Nasser to start a pioneering mission in crocodile protection. As he arrives, however, he is faced with a shocking discovery: the identity of the lake as he had known it all his life has changed. Fishermen have taken control of the lake’s activities, surpassing their fishing habits to target the largest organism on the top of the lake’s food chain. Crocodile numbers have since decreased in an unimaginable way, risking their existence to near extinction. This realization leads Ezzat to take action. Together with a group of dedicated lonestars, he launches the first and only self-organised crocodile conservation unit in Egypt. The crew embark on a suspenseful journey across Africa’s largest human-made lake to uncover the dynamics and sublime networks that nurture the massive crocodile extermination. Are the crocodiles really threatening the fisher’s lives and livelihood? Or are there other, secret factors linked to the black-market wildlife trade in Egypt? As Ezzat and his crew pass their days and nights in complete isolation on the boat, their fears of the reptiles turn into a dreamy immersion into the magical worlds of Egypt’s mythical creatures blurring the finities of reality.
Omar Manjouneh
Egyptian-British, Bristol based, filmmaker specializing in natural history and environmental storytelling. A graduate of the Higher Institute of Cinema in 2015, he began his career in South Africa, working on documentary productions. Over the years, he has directed and produced numerous short fiction and documentary films, focusing on environmental, political, and social themes across Egypt and the African continent.
In addition to his filmmaking work, Omar has contributed as an Onset Visual Effects (VFX) Supervisor on various Egyptian and international projects, including the recent Universal Studios production Wicked: Part Two. His expertise in visual storytelling is further complemented by his postgraduate studies in virtual production, which he recently completed.
Currently, Omar is directing and producing his first feature-length natural history documentary, Crocodopolis. The project, which explores themes related to wildlife and the environment, is now in post-production. This marks an important milestone in his career as he continues to merge his passion for visual effects with his dedication to natural history filmmaking.