Egyptian film Ward Masmoum (Poisonous Roses) will be screened on Friday at the 17th Marrakesh Film Festival, which runs from 30 November to 8 December.

The film, directed by Ahmed Fawzi Saleh (also known as Fawzi Saleh), is based on Ahmed Zaghloul Al-Shiti’s 1990 novel titled Saqr’s Poisonous Roses.

The film has participated in almost 40 film festivals across the globe, and won three awards at the 40th Cairo International Film Festival (21-29 November).

The cast includes Ibrahim El-Nagari (in the role of Saqr), Merihan Magdi (Taheya), Mahmoud Hemeida (the magician), Mohamed Berakaa (the sheikh), Safaa El-Toukhy (the mother).

The Egyptian protagonist, Saqr, lives and works in a tanning district, but dreams to escape the area.

Poisonous Roses was screened in the Horizons of Arab Cinema section of the festival.

Founded in 2001, the Marrakesh Film Festival is a major regional festival. This year it is honouring several iconic names in cinema, including Egyptian director Yousry Nasrallah, American actor Robert De Niro, and American director Martin Scorsese.

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