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

Still from The Brink of Dreams

There’s no business like show business, and there’s no better way to experience show business than at the Cannes Film Festival, where the beachy Boulevard de La Croisette welcomes an alternate reality saturated with the outfits we so keenly judge and dissect while we’re at home in our pyjamas ordering takeout. All jokes aside, we want to focus more on the films competing for the Cannes prizes, especially the Egyptian films—yes, our movies have been accepted to compete in the festival!

Taking place from the 14th to the 25th of May, the Cannes Film Festival is warmly welcoming seven films to vie for four top prizes during the Critics’ Week, one of which is the Egyptian documentary The Brink of Dreams. Aiming to discover and support fresh talents, the Critics’ Week showcases first and second feature films by directors worldwide.

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The Brink of Dreams, directed by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir, revolves around a group of women from Al Minya who defy norms by establishing an all-women theatre ensemble. This documentary is expected to serve as a window for the world to observe an authentic portrayal of one of the many facets of Egypt. Starring Magda Masoud, Haidy Sameh, Monica Youssef, Marina Samir, Mariam Nassar, Lydia Haroun, and Yustina Samir, the movie is an embodiment of female empowerment.

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Alongside Critics’ Week, the Directors’ Fortnight, which purports to highlight independent films made by almost anyone and everyone, even non-professionals, will include the Egyptian film East of Noon. Bringing unconventional, bold works into the spotlight, the Directors’ Fortnight presents multiple awards in recognition of the best works.

Directed by Hala ElKoussy, East of Noon centres on Abdo, a bold, rebellious musician constantly pushing towards an exit from the iron grip of the world through his art, which is depicted as his one and only saviour.

Pinning all our hope on these two remarkable works, our predictions—or our guts—are telling us that The Brink of Dreams and East of Noon are going to leave an indelible mark on everyone’s minds, making way for a wider exploration of Egyptian works.