The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

This September, be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming 3^rd edition of El Gouna Film Festival (GFF). Last week, a press conference was held to announce the details of the highly anticipated event, which will take place from the 19^th to the 27^th of September, with approximately 80 films from all over the world competing for the prestigious awards, according to Shorouk News.

Twelve feature films, nine documentaries, 22 short films are currently being considered for cash prizes worth more than 30,000 USD. The global submissions hail from so many nations, including Jordan, Russia, Palestine, Lebanon, France, Argentina, Spain, and of course, Egypt, with not one, but two entries. Let’s learn more about the plotlines of these two short film nominees and their directors.

We start with the 11-minute, Colorblind,  under the directorship of writer, producer, and director, Menna Ekram, who is no stranger to the spotlight. She is most famously known for her memorable work on Egyptian series, Heba Regl El Ghorab, and Sabi’e Gar. You can learn more about her professional background on Arab Women in Films.

Via arabwomaninfilms.com

According to Egypt Today, the setting takes place in a Victorian cemetery in Bristol, England, where two Egyptians cross paths. The first protagonist is a husband and father who is working abroad to support his family, while the other is a female character on vacation. Throughout the movie, they learn how they have very little in common despite sharing the same country. The South African Durban International Film Festival writes, “Colorblind examines gender and class in the context of consent from the perspective of a man and a woman who have nothing in common. In a way, they are both colourblind.” The movie is also scheduled for a screening at the Aarhus Arab Film Festival in Denmark.

Via elwatannews.com

We then move on to This is my Night by second-time director, Youssef Noaman. According to Ahram Gate, the film received support from some big-name organisations, including the UNICEF and the EU. The stars of the cast are Nahed ElSebai and Sherif Eldesouky, who was awarded Best Actor at the CIFF almost a year ago. The plotline revolves around a poor woman who decides to take her child out for ice-cream and have some fun in one of the upper-class districts in Cairo. Little did she know what was in store.

It’s always inspirational when we are reminded each day that Egyptians have the constant capability to uphold our country’s dominant reputation in the film industry. We can’t wait for the festival and the results.