Two Egyptian films, Maqsoom and I Promise You Paradise, have brought home prestigious awards from the 5th Casablanca Arab Film Festival.
Maqsoom, directed by Kawthar Younis, secured the Best Main Actresses prize at the Feature Film Competition. Starring Laila Elwi, Shereen Reda, and Samaa Ibrahem, the film follows the story of three former bandmates who reunite for one last performance. Maqsoom recieved awards at various film festivals, including the Aswan International Women’s Film Festival and the Hollywood Arab Film Festival.
Meanwhile, I Promise You Paradise, directed by Morad Mostafa, clinched the Best Short Film Award at Casablanca. This follows a string of accolades for the film, including the Rail d’Or Award at Cannes Film Festival and the Outstanding Short Film Award at Cinéfest Sudbury. The short film portrays the journey of a young African migrant in Egypt.
Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy was also honored with the Special Creativity Award at the festival, recognizing his significant contributions to the Egyptian and Arab film industry. He also conducted a masterclass, sharing his valuable insights with aspiring filmmakers.
The Casablanca Arab Film Festival, which concluded on September 13th, showcased a diverse selection of Arab cinema and celebrated the talents of filmmakers from across the region.