‘In the Shadows of Cairo’ Set to Premiere at Marrakech Festival
In an exciting development for cinema enthusiasts in Morocco, the Egyptian film ‘In the Shadows of Cairo,’ directed by the talented sibling duo Rani and Salem Masalha, is gearing up for its world premiere at the 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival, which will take place from November 20 to 28. In conjunction with this much-anticipated screening, the production company ‘Mad World,’ a subsidiary of ‘Mad Solutions,’ has announced that it has secured the distribution and sales rights for the film in global cinematic markets. This signifies a significant leap for the film as it aims to reach audiences far beyond its borders.
The narrative of ‘In the Shadows of Cairo’ is rooted in a true story set against the backdrop of the Zabaleen community in the Manshiyet Nasser district of Cairo. The plot centers around the character Salem, who returns to his hometown after a long absence to manage the family-owned pig farm. His return coincides with a critical moment as the region faces a swine flu outbreak, leading to widespread panic and political turmoil, culminating in a government decree to cull all pigs. This decision poses a direct threat to the livelihoods of the community members, forcing Salem into a critical confrontation where he risks everything to defend his community and their right to survive.
Both directors have expressed their enthusiasm for presenting the film to an international audience for the first time at the Marrakech Festival, highlighting the event’s contemporary spirit and its ambition to strengthen its presence on the global film festival map. This collaborative effort has drawn attention to the film's unique storytelling that seeks to provide a bold human perspective on a story deeply embedded in Egyptian society, a sentiment echoed by the film’s founding partners, Maher Diab and Alaa Karkouti. They have previously collaborated with Rani Masalha on films such as ‘Gaza Mon Amour’ and ‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza’ and are proud to support the film's international debut at Marrakech, a festival recognized for its prominence in the region’s cinematic landscape.
The film features a remarkable cast, including Hassan Malik, Tara Emad, Kamal Al-Basha, Hamza Al-Aili, Jihad Hossam El-Din, Karim Adriano, and Mina Mumtaz. The screenplay was crafted by Gladys Marciano, Valérie Moreau, and Rani Masalha, while Eric Dufran directed the photography and Julia Gregory handled the editing. The sound design involved the expertise of Bruno Schwaizgut, Antoine Francois, and Fred Demolder, with the film's score composed by Amin Bouhafa. The production team includes Morelle Merline, Habib Attia, Ahmed Fawzi, Isabelle Moulin, and Rani Masalha, and is a collaborative venture that unites talents from France, Belgium, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
This film marks the first directorial collaboration between the Masalha brothers, although each has pursued different career paths. Rani began his cinematic journey in 2012 with the short film ‘Elvis of Nazareth,’ which won the Jury Prize from UniFrance at the Cannes Film Festival. He later released his feature film debut, ‘Giraffada,’ starring Saleh Bakri, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013 before being commercially released in France in April 2014. On the other hand, Salem is making his directorial debut with ‘In the Shadows of Cairo’ after a successful career in social entrepreneurship, environmental innovation, and international development consulting. Born and raised in Paris to a Palestinian father and an Egyptian mother, Salem moved to Cairo with Rani, where he focused on community development projects and climate change initiatives. This film provides him with a platform to convey his passion for social issues and sustainability through a compelling Egyptian narrative that resonates deeply with the lives of the Zabaleen community.
As reported by alquds.co.uk.
