Latest news with #ZawyaCinema
CairoScene
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Saudi Film 'Saify' to Screen at Zawya Cinema in Downtown Cairo
Wael Abumansour's latest feature blends sleuthing and satire to explore the crumbling dream of quick wealth. 'Saify', a Saudi feature by journalist-turned-director Wael Abumansour, is screening at Zawya Cinema in Downtown Cairo starting May 21st, as part of the 8th edition of Cairo Cinema Days. The film explores the complexities of identity, family ties, and the enduring influence of tradition in a rapidly changing society. At the centre of it all is Saify himself, a man in his 40s desperately clinging to dreams of quick wealth with little more than stubborn optimism and a defunct cassette shop selling banned religious sermons. While 'Saify' may feel like a fictional exaggeration, the roots are deeply grounded in the filmmaker's own experience. Abumansour's stint in journalism, before his directorial debut, taught him the art of research and digging for stories. 'Saify' will be screened with English subtitles, with tickets priced at EGP 100.
CairoScene
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Gaza Documentary ‘A State of Passion' to Screen at Zawya Cinema
The documentary follows British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah and his experiences working in Gaza's hospitals. May 16, 2025 Zawya Cinema is hosting a special screening of the documentary 'A State of Passion' on May 17th as part of The Between Women Filmmakers Caravan. Co-directed by Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi, the film traces the journey of British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah during 43 days inside Gaza's Al Shifa and Al Ahli hospitals—two of the most overwhelmed facilities amidst Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza. The screening starts at 7 PM sharp, with tickets available at a discounted price of EGP 600 through ElCinema's official website.
CairoScene
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Zawya Cinema Screens Acclaimed Documentary ‘Abu Zaabal 89'
A standout at the Cairo Int'l Film Festival, 'Abu Zaabal 89' won three awards and became a rallying point for Egypt's indie film scene. May 07, 2025 Director Bassam Mortada's documentary 'Abu Zaabal 89' is set to screen at Zawya Cinema starting May 7th as part of Cairo Cinema Days, a special program showcasing standout Arab films that have made an impact on the international festival circuit. The film had its world premiere at the 2024 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in the Luminous section, which showcases films that 'tell human stories with a strong visual style'. A standout at the 2024 Cairo International Film Festival, 'Abu Zaabal 89' won three awards and quickly became a rallying point for Egypt's independent film scene. Its four sold-out screenings, two of which were added due to overwhelming demand, sparked a sense of collective pride among local filmmakers. The film is both an intimate memoir and a historical reckoning. Mortada, the son of Egyptian socialist activist Mahmoud Mortada, revisits the trauma of 1989, when his father was incarcerated during the Steel and Iron Company strike. Bassam, still a teenager at the time, accompanied his mother, Fardous, to visit his father in Abu Zaabal prison; a memory that became etched into their family's history. Decades later, 'Abu Zaabal 89' reconstructs this moment, not just as a personal reflection but as a wider narrative about resistance, memory, and political legacy. Through candid conversations with his parents and archival footage, Mortada weaves a multilayered story of family, repression, and resilience. The film also highlights the experiences of Bassam's friends, whose families were similarly impacted by the same case.
CairoScene
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Modern Classic ‘Sahar El Layali' Returns to Zawya Cinema on April 30th
A landmark of early 2000s Egyptian cinema returns to the big screen for a special screening in Downtown Cairo. Apr 27, 2025 Downtown Cairo's Zawya Cinema is set to host a special screening of 'Sahar El Layali' ('Sleepless Nights') on Wednesday, April 30th, offering fans of Egyptian cinema the chance to revisit one of the most influential films of its generation. First released in 2003, 'Sahar El Layali' is widely regarded as a modern classic for its unflinching portrayal of personal relationships, marital tensions, and societal expectations in contemporary Egypt. The film marked director Hani Khalifa's debut feature and Tamer Habib's first feature as a screenwriter. It follows four couples as they navigate love, betrayal, and disillusionment, painting a raw, emotionally complex portrait of urban middle-class life. Featuring a celebrated ensemble cast—including Mona Zaki, Khaled Abol Naga, Sherif Mounir, Hanan Turk, Ola Ghanem, Gihan Fadel and Ahmed Helmy—the film was praised for its character-driven storytelling and naturalistic dialogue, a shift from the more melodramatic styles that had dominated Egyptian cinema in previous decades. 'Sahar El Layali' was a commercial and critical success, winning several awards, including Best Film at the Cairo International Film Festival and the Egyptian National Film Festival.
Broadcast Pro
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Zawya Cinema brings Somali film ‘The Village Next to Paradise' to Egyptian screens
'The Village Next to Paradise' is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Mo Harawe in his feature-length debut. Zawya Cinema has invited Egyptian filmgoers to experience The Village Next to Paradise through a special week-long screening starting April 23. Distributed by MAD, the film will be shown to local audiences outside the festival circuit for the first time in Egypt. Directed and written by Mo Harawe in his feature debut, The Village Next to Paradise transports viewers to the serene backdrop of a Somali village, where a family recently brought back together must navigate the fragile balance between personal aspirations and societal pressures. The film offers an intimate portrayal of life in the village, capturing the everyday struggles and dreams of its residents. The cast includes Ahmed Ali Farah, Ahmed Mahmoud Suleiman and Anab Ahmed Ibrahim. Joana Scrinzi handled the film's editing, while Noor Abdulkadir served as production designer. Egyptian cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef made his feature debut on the film, earning the Best Cinematography award at the Diagonale Austrian Film Festival. The film also won Best Feature Film at the same festival. The Village Next to Paradise holds the distinction of being the first Somali film to screen at the Cannes Film Festival. El Kashef, who gained acclaim for his work on the project, will return to Cannes this May with his latest film, Aisha Can't Fly.
