Directed by Kawthar Younis, Maqsoom was awarded the Best Main Actresses prize at the Feature Film Competition.
The film stars Laila Elwi, Shereen Reda, and Samaa Ibrahem, as Hind, Emy and Rania respectively. The three women used to sing together in a band before their lives tore them apart. When they receive an invitation to sing together in Aswan, they reunite and are forced to work together on one last show.
Maqsoom was commercially released across Egyptian cinemas in January 2024.
The film participated in many festivals, bringing the Best Egyptian Movie Award at the Aswan International Women’s Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Hollywood Arab Film Festival.
Meanwhile, I Promise You Paradise won the Best Short Film Award at the Casablanca festival. This win comes after a series of prizes the film scored since its release in 2023.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2023, where it was screened at the 62nd Critics Week, winning the Rail d'Or Award for best short film.
Directed by Morad Mostafa, who also co-wrote the film with Sawsan Yusuf, I Promise You Paradise went on to garner other awards, including the Outstanding Short Film Award at Cinéfest Sudbury, Special Jury Mention at the Bucharest Short Film Festival, and several other awards and nominations.
The film follows Eissa, a 17-year-old African migrant in Egypt. "Intimate, political, and deeply rooted in contemporary social reality, I Promise You Paradise portrays a silent, yet determined, teenager who will stop at nothing to save his loved ones," read a Cannes critique.
The 5th edition of the Casablanca Arab Film Festival took place between 6 and 13 September.
This year, the festival granted Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy the Special Creativity Award to recognize his rich cinematic career and contribution to the Egyptian and Arab film industry.
Fahmy also held a masterclass during the festival, sharing his insights and expertise with the participants.
Short link: