As part of its policy of supporting independent filmmakers, Misr International Films (MIF) launched the 'Women in the New Egypt' project with the support of the British Embassy in Cairo.

Through the project, the production of five short films by five young directors, selected from 10 participants in a workshop held by MIF, was funded by the company. The films share one common theme: they all tackle women's issues in modern Egypt. 

Bahiya, by Mavie Maher, is an introspective look at the turmoil one teacher goes through after one of her students dies in a violent attack. Mina Magdy's Ibn Bnoot (Male Virgin) is a dark comedy exploring how life in Egypt would change if social roles were reversed, giving women authority over men.

Virtual by Nada Riyadh follows a day in the life of an activist lawyer specialising in a number of labour cases, focusing on the lawyer's Facebook posts. Shady El-Hakim's Masreya (Egyptian) dives into the lives of modern day women in different situations against the backdrop of the lives of women in ancient Egypt, while Sondos Shabayek's El-Bent (The Girl) follows an Egyptian female in an Egyptian street, focusing on how she deals with the looks and comments thrown her way.

The five films will be screened Monday, 2 December, in El-Manial's Galaxy Cinema as part of this year's selection of the Panorama of the European Film, an annual event initiated by MIF in 2004. The screenings will be followed by a discussion with the films' directors.

Read Ahram Online's review here.

Programme:
Monday, 2 December, at 6pm
Galaxy Cinema, 67 Abd El-Aziz Al-Saud Street, El-Manial

Complete Programme of the Panorama of the European Film