Zawya Highlights Independent Arab Films
BY FARAH ALY
Zawya – located at Cinema Odeon in downtown Cairo – is an innovative film house showcasing local, Arab and foreign independent films, short films, and documentaries.
Launched in March 2014, Zawya strays from the mainstream and on occasion shows old films directed by its progenitor Egyptian cinema legend Youssef Chahine.
Misr International Films, a film company established by Chahine in 1972, launched Zawya in an attempt to provide independent and growing filmmakers with the opportunity to reach their goals and share their stories with the public.
As a result, the venue offers different film screenings every week, as well as other similar events and film discussions.Ticket prices for the screenings and events usually range from EGP 20 to 25.
“I’ve been coming to Zawya since the month it opened,” says consistent audience member Abdel Latif Aly.“
“It has opened my eyes to how talented the Arab world is and how movies aren’t just about effects, they’re about the hidden message they try to convey,” he added.
Almost every film premiere is followed by a discussion or debate about the screening involving the audience and the director of the film.
“After attending one of the movie discussions, I learned how we can all see the same thing and perceive it in different ways,” says Alia Amr, another Zawya patron.
“When you listen to a song and you interpret the lyrics in a way and another person interprets it in a completely different way, that’s the beauty of Art. It indulges your mind,” Amr said.
Zawya premiered Ghadi, a new Lebanese film, last month. Ghadi is about a special needs boy who the town fears. Throughout the movie, the boy’s father tries to show the town that there is nothing to fear and that his son is actually a savior.
“I enjoyed the movie as much as anyone did, I liked how the movie was shot and how it educated me about people with special needs, I never thought I’d learn anything from watching a movie,” said audience member Nancy Karim.
Laila Hammouda, who has been coming to Zawya, said that the venue itself is very comfortable.
She then explained that she wasn’t bothered at all with the seats and that she could see the movie very clearly. She likes the atmosphere Zawya offers.
“It’s like a haven for people who love movies,” Hammouda said.
