This year’s edition includes seven acclaimed Egyptian plays, as well as productions from Lebanon, Palestine, Italy, and Japan. Spain, the guest of honour, will present two performances.
Running from 25 September to 2 October, the 2025 edition of EIWTF is dedicated to Lady of Arab Theatre Samiha Ayoub, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 93.
The festival will also honour prominent women artists, including Farida Fahmy, Hanan Suleiman, Aida Fahmy, Moataza Abdel Sabour, and Ola Fahmy.
Moreover, EIWTF will screen two documentaries, host a music concert, and offer several workshops for young actors.
During a press conference last week, festival president, actress, and director Abeer Lotfy said the number of Egyptian submissions rose sharply this year, exceeding 105 plays, a sign of Egypt’s rich theatrical talent.
She also highlighted the launch of the Fathia El-Assal Playwriting Competition, held for the first time this year, which received over 80 submissions in two categories, professional and emerging writers.
Festival artistic director Abeer Ali explained that the event’s primary goal is to showcase women’s theatre, regardless of whether the works are created by men or women.
Ali also announced a new partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to introduce a community arts track in collaboration with the Community Arts Festival, organized by Etijah Foundation and supervised by Zad for Arts under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. This track will feature two performances, a documentary, and a youth choir concert.
Festival co-director and critic Rasha Abdel Moneim outlined the intellectual programme, which includes two seminars: one on artificial intelligence in the arts and intellectual property rights and another titled "How Do WE Escape the Transparent Wall?," featuring artists and critics such as Salwa Mohamed Ali, Maysa Zaki, and Jihad El-Dinari. The seminar will explore the challenges women face in the theatre industry.
The training programme will include a movement performance workshop by Italian artist Anna Dora Dorno, a theatre management workshop with Maram Abdel Maqsoud, a project writing workshop led by director Ahmed El-Attar, and a session on online violence against women.
Veteran actor Fathi Abdel Wahab will also deliver a special masterclass as a festival highlight.
Eazees Int'l Festival for Women's Theatre
The EIWTF was first held in 2021 but faced delays in subsequent years due to post-COVID-19 challenges in the cultural sector.
In its inaugural edition, renowned Egyptian actress Sawsan Badr was the festival's honorary president, and the event was named after the late writer Fathia Al-Assal.
It then returned in 2024 with its second edition, and the third one will kick off on 25 September.
The EIWTF grants awards for Best Stage Play, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Scenography, in addition to jury prizes, certificates of appreciation, and special mentions.
The festival’s trophy is a statue of the ancient Egyptian goddess Eazees (Isis), symbolizing female strength, wisdom, and creativity.
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