Nawara, a film directed by Hala Khalil that recently earned actress Menna Shalaby the best actress award at the 12th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), will be released in Egyptian mainstream cinemas on 23 March.

The film premiered in Egypt as it opened the 5th edition of the Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF), which runs between 17 and 23 March.

Nawara premiered in the Arab region at DIFF, and was one of five Egyptian films in competition for the Muhr Awards at the festival.

Alongside Shalaby, the film stars Mahmoud Hemeda، Sherine Reda, Ahmed Rateb, and Amir Salah Eddin.

The story takes place on the eve of the 2011 uprising, and centres around Nawara, a woman in her twenties who works as a housemaid at a big villa in a luxury compound. During the absence of the landlord, she invites her fiancé over, and together they enjoy a taste of the life of the rich and famous.

Khalil also directed two feature films, Qas w Lazq and Ahla El-Awqat

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