Raghda El-Sayed
In its fifth edition, the Arab Film Festival Zurich is taking place between 19 and 29 November, bringing a total of 36 movies from several Arab countries.
The Egyptian feature-length films are Diamond Dust (2018), directed by Marwan Hamed, and A City and the Lost Art of Happiness, directed by Nada Ibrahim.
Diamond Dust
Egyptian Ahmed Mourad wrote the screenplay for Diamond Dust. The movie stars Asser Yassin, Menna Shalabi, and Maged El-Kedwani.
A City and the Lost Art of Happiness
As for 2019 documentary A City and the Lost Art of Happiness, it’s written, directed and with scenography by Nada Ibrahim. The documentary is about El-Qahera, Cairo, which in Arabic means the conqueror.
The cast includes Mohamed Helmi, Maggi Zaki, Nada El-Shazly, and Omar Osman El-Shabrawy.
The Arab Film Festival Zurich will be screening other three Egyptian short movies, including two animated films, by Egyptian directors Habib, Black Loop and Mr Purple.
Habib
Shady Fouad directs the romantic comedy Habib, and the cast includes Egypt’s famed actors Sayed Ragab and Salwa Mohamed Ali.
Black Loop
The two-minute animated movie Black Loop is directed by Adel El-Badrawy who also wrote the screenplay and composed the music for the work.
Mr Purple
The animated film Mr Purple (2019, 11 minutes) is directed by Osama Abu Zaid, written by Ahmed Abdel-Rahim, and Hani Shenouda wrote the music.
Abu Zaid is an Egyptian animated movie director who has participated in quite a few animated films festivals. Mr Purple has entered multiple regional and worldwide competitions.
