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‘Old Is Gold’: online project modernises cinema’s old female icons
‘I wanted to show how beautiful these idols are without tonnes of makeup colours, or plastic surgeries,’ artist says
Salma Hayek demands male film industry workers receive pay cut
Mexican-American actress Salma Hayek, who is a vocal campaigner against sexual harassment in the film business, said on Sunday during a lecture parallel to the Cannes Film Festival that male individuals in the film industry should get less pay in an effort to be equal to their female counterparts. She made the statement a day …
Luxor African Film Festival: Cinema for a better tomorrow
The Luxor African Film Festival is an annual celebration of films, art, and criticism, while keeping a close eye on African cinema and its different contemporary issues. The festival has been building up momentum to reach out to different artists and filmmakers from the African continent, to bridge the gap between Arabic-speaking African countries and …
Victims & Heroes of Egyptian Cinema (4): Sherif Arafa’s Terrorism & Kebab (1992)
As previously mentioned at the end of last week’s article, I will begin to trace how Egyptian cinema has talked about spaces where narratives of victimisation are produced and contested. Here, I would like to ask two main questions: what are the features of the space in which “victims” are situated? And how can the …
Victims & Heroes of Egyptian Cinema (3): Atef El-Taieb’s Love on the Pyramids Plateau (1986)
In the previous two articles of this series, I highlighted how the representation of the victim figure is made possible either by the formation or the deformation of a relationship with the victimised person. I discussed how the invisibility of the victim is broken amid a fundamental change that occurs in the nature of human …
India ditches compulsory national anthem at cinema
India’s compulsory playing of its national anthem before cinema screenings has been dashed by the Supreme Court. It has, however, stipulated that audiences will stand briefly when movie halls drop the patriotic tune. Indian media reported widespread relief last week over the removal of assertive nationalism in cinemas imposed in 2016 under the Hindu right-wing …
44th birthday of the female voice of Egyptian TV drama and cinema
There are dozens of successful movies and drama, but you may forget the name of their makers once the movie or the episodes are over. This, however, does not apply to the works of a director like Kamla Abu Zekry. Kamla Abou Zekry, who celebrated her birthday on 8 January, is one of the best …
Victims & Heroes of Egyptian Cinema: Atef El-Tayeb’s Against the Government (Dud al-Hakuma, 1992)
Our hero is imperfect. He is not one of those idols whose footsteps we will be advised to follow in our everyday lives. In cultural terms, he is unclean. He does not look after the shape of his hair and beard. He shows us, and has once said, that he does not like to shave …
El Gouna Film Festival dawns with embracing humanity
I want to use cinema as a way for defending humanity, we need a platform to stand against extremism, wars, and terrorism only for the sake of humanism; says Naguib Sawiris
Director Ali Badrakhan wins Nile Award for the Arts
The director received the award following voting by the Supreme Council of Culture
YouTube channel provides cinema lovers with critical reviews
The open environment of YouTube doesn’t create that fierce competition that requires someone to lose for another one to win, says Mahdy
Mohamed Khan: knight of the defeated
Mohamed Khan has died?! This was the question of denial that followed the tragic news of his death. His death was followed by nothing but the silent sneaking of absence. Khan—king of reality—is no longer in real life. There is something that cannot be said in one sentence—something that still does not mitigate the suddenness …
Everything in us is emotional
This week marks the anniversary of Yousef Shahin’s death. His death was quiet and simple, not reflective of the minutes of our lives which he had vociferously filled with his works. Works Shahin had inferred from the depths of his soul, and had run with, in order to build bridges between contradicting interpretations, without easing …
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In Pictures: Leading Egyptian director Mohamed Khan dies at 73
Photos by Asmaa Gamal
One year has passed without Omar Al-Sharif
Although it only seems like a few weeks ago, one whole year has passed since the death of Egypt’s handsome mesmerising ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ Omar Al-Sharif. On a Friday morning, people woke up to the news of their beloved award-winning super star’s death, due to a heart attack at the age of 83. Between disbelief …
Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami dies at age 76
The acclaimed director, who won the 1997 Palme d’Or for “Taste of Cherry,” passed away from cancer in France. He had left Iran last week for medical treatment.
‘Alia’ tackles sufferings of mothers in the Egyptian society
“Film as dream, film as music. No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls.” This is how Swedish director, writer, and producer Ingmar Bergman described cinema. In our society, cinema has been playing a crucial role in documenting …
Hala provides new understanding for psychological trauma in Egypt’s cinema
Although the movie was basically produced as a graduation project, the director intends to participate in a number of local and international film festivals in Dubai and Morocco to educate the biggest number of people about the impact of trauma, and how it may lead to severe consequences.
Born 125 years ago: Celebrating the films of Fritz Lang
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Hollywood star Maureen O’Hara dies of natural causes at 95
Sieren’s China: ‘Monkey King’ is a domestic success
Cinema for the blind with Zawya
By Rana Khaled Have you ever imagined that the visually impaired might still have a chance to watch a full film in a normal cinema theatre? Have you ever thought they are able to see the backgrounds and atmosphere of each scene, get the full conversations between actors and even understand their feelings, facial …
Omar Sharif passes away with 1 final film to be released
1001 Inventions, a British based non-profit production organisation, announced the release of a new short film in which Sharif participated. The film, which is the actor’s final performance, is a science fiction film featuring the inventions of Muslim scientist Al-Hassan Ibn Al-Haitham.
Prominent Egyptian filmmaker Nader Galal dies at 73
Galal directed over 50 films and a number of television series
’White Sugar’: Egyptian film to premiere at Dubai Film Festival
Director Ahmed Khaled reflects on filmmaking and post-revolutionary bureaucracy on Egyptian cinema scene
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Award-winning Palestinian cinematographer denied entry to Egypt
Oscar-nominated production team forced to relocate new film to Jordan
The Tentmakers of Cairo: Art, life and political rollercoasters
An interview with Kim Beamish, the director of “The Tentmakers of Cairo”, which was screened at Cairo International Film Festival
Cairo International Film Festival celebrates Egyptian director Henry Barakat
CIFF will exhibit photographs of the director and his most celebrated work, in addition to a 30-minute documentary about his life
Egyptian actress Mariam Fakhr Eddine dies age 81
The actress died after complications in surgery to remove a blood clot
Between power and defeat: Men in Egyptian film
Some films have been critical about some forms of masculinity, offering an ‘ideal’ for men to aspire to