The 23rd Munich Film Festival, which opens on 23 June and runs until 2 July, showcases a number of regional films, highlighting them on the official website as ‘Films from the Islamic World.’
The films are distributed across the festival’s four sections, CineMasters, CineVision, Spotlight and International Independents.
Two Egyptian films were among the festival's selections, Clash (Eshtebak) by Mohamed Diab in the Cinevision section, and Nawara by Hala Khalil in the International Independents section.
Clash explores the confrontations between pro and anti-Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators that emerged following the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi from power on 3 July 2013.
The film was selected in Cannes Film Festival's Un Certian Regard section, garnering positive reviews.
Nawara is set in the wake of the 2011 revolution, centering on a woman in her twenties who works as a housemaid at a villa in a luxury compound.
As the owners flee the politically unstable country, she invites her fiancé over, and together they enjoy a taste of the life of the rich and famous.
The film earned two best actress awards for star Menna Shalaby at the 12th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) and at Morocco’s Tetouan International Mediterranean Film Festival.
Films from several Arab countries that are also being screened in the Munich festival include Mai Masri’s film 3000 Nights from Palestine, a film co-produced by the UAE, Jordan and Lebanon.
Other films from Lebanon are Go Home, 23 Kilometers (with the UAE) and Tramontane.
From the UAE also comes The Idol that was co-produced by Palestine.
The film Frenzy participates from Qatar, while Iraq participates with six films: El Classico, DAF, A Flag Without a Country, Life on the Border, Turtles Can Fly, Rhino Season and Marooned in Iraq.
Iranian Film The Salesman, which won Best Actor and Best Screenplay in Cannes, by Academy Award winner Asghar Farhadi, is highlighted in the festival’s CineMasters section.
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