The Aswan International Women Film Festival announced 31 films in its lineup in the upcoming first edition, that runs from 20 to 26 February.

The selected films all share a concern for women's issues, and with an international selection, bring perspectives from different societies.

The feature films category will include 13 films from 13 countries. As for the short films section, 18 films will participate from 12 different countries.

The selection includes three Egyptian films, the award-winning Withered Green in the feature length competition, and two in the short films competition, Shaimaa and Sandouq El-Donia.

Scriptwriter Mohamed Abdelkhaleq, who heads the festival, stated in a report on Al-Ahram Arabic website that screenings will be held at the Helnan Hotel in Aswan.

He also expressed his satisfaction with the festival’s selection of high quality films, that were carefully picked by producer and director Ahmed Hassouna, the festival’s artistic director, and the selection jury, which includes critic and novelist Saad Qersh, director Dina Hamza, director Youssef Hisham, and French literature professor Dalia El-Seginy.

Hassan Abo-Elela, director of the festival, further noted the diversity in the festival’s films, and expressed his optimism about the audience turnout.

Egyptian director Hala Khalil will head the jury of the features competition, while Italian director Natalie Biancheri heads the short films jury.

Films in the feature length category:

The Eagle Huntress, documentary, United States of America
Directed by Otto Bell,

Little Wing, drama, Finland
Directed by Selma Vilhonin

The Magic Mountain, animation, Romania
Directed by Anca Damian

The Assasin, drama, China
Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien

Marriage, drama, Belgium
Directed by Steven Stryker

The Open Door, drama, Spain
Directed by Marina Seresesky

Zubaydah, drama, Algeria
Directed by Yahya Muzahim,

Cheer Up, documentary, Canada/Finland
Directed by Christy Garland

Withered Green, drama, Egypt
Directed by Mohammed Hammad

Under Construction, drama, Bangladesh
Directed by Rubaiyat Hossain

Reflections, documentary, Sweden
Directed by Sarah Broos

L’Accabadora, drama, Italy
Directed by Enrico Pau

Claire in Motion, drama, United States of America,
Directed by Annie J. Howell and Lisa Robinson

Films in the shorts category:

Belladonna, drama, Croatia
Directed by Dubravka Turic

Ayah Goes to the Beach, drama, Morocco
Directed by Maryam Touzani,

I Promise You, drama, Algeria
Directed by Mohammed Yargui

The Silence, drama, Italy
Directed by Farnoosh Samadi and Ali Asgari

Champ des Possibles, documentary, Italy
Directed by Christina Picci

Scarlet, drama, Croatia
Dijana Mlađenović

For a Good Time, drama, Germany/ USA
Directed by Aemilia Scott

Tilda, drama, Germany
Directed by Katja Benrath

A Letter to God, drama, USA/Azerbaijan
Directed by Marina Ibrahimova

Local Garden, drama, Greece
Directed by Sini Baba

Shaimaa, documentary, Egypt
Directed by Abdelfattah Farag

A Night in a Taxi, drama, United Arab Emirates
Directed by Aysha Alzaabi

Imago, drama, Philippines
Directed by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez

Alia, drama, Egypt
Directed by Mohamed Saadoun

Sandouq El-Donia, animation, Egypt
Directed by Marwa Kamel

*Pani’s Restaurant, animation, Italy
Directed by Laura Luchetti

*A Clear Vision of my Father, documentary, Denmark
Directed by Nikulin Scott Jacobson

*Kabovatzi Beyond Borders, documentary, Germany
Directed by Gertrude Schultz and Westenberg

*Unofficial translations of the film’s titles.

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