Memorable Moments of the Past 4 Editions of GFF
To celebrate this year’s 5th edition, we’ve gathered up our favorite moments from El Gouna Film festival’s past 4 editions. Enjoy!
Nişantaşi: Turkish Cuisine at Its Best in Cairo
It’s always fun to try out different cuisines around Cairo but our latest visit to Nişantaşi was so exceptional that we just had to share it with our readers.
If you’re ever looking for the perfect spot for a family gathering over a scrumptious feast or a quiet dinner out on the terrace read on, because Nişantaşi has all that and more to offer.
By Mariam Elhamy
Signature Dishes: Out of the many signature items on the menu, their specialties would have to be the Nişantaşi Tajin and the Tuzda Lamb Shank and they both come with a show.
Dishes Sampled
We are not exaggerating when we say that our tasting experience was nothing but a journey of flavors. Our work was cut out for us when we were handed Nişantaşi’s tablet menu because it included various sections with so many delicious dishes displayed with a photo and a description of every ingredient on the plate in both English and Arabic.
We loved being able to see every dish so that we had some idea of what we were ordering. It gave us recommended dishes based on the item we were viewing which made our selection process easier. The detailed description of each dish also helps you rule out if the dish has any ingredients that you are allergic to or you just don’t like.
The first dishes to come to our table were the Nişantaşi Salata, the Nişantaşi Meze, the Sigara böreği and a freshly baked breadbasket. These palate pleasers kept us busy until our main dishes arrived. The salad was a mix of chopped tomatoes, cucumber, onion and mint but what made it really special is the exquisite olive oil and crunchy walnut pieces.
We chose the Nişantaşi Meze because it had a little bit of everything, from spicy tomato yogurt to baba ganoush, sliced olives and hummus. For those of you who have no idea what a Sigara böreği is, it’s a roll of deep fried thin pastry filled with Turkish white cheese.
On with our meal, the next to arrive was the highly recommended Pide, which is the Turkish equivalent of a pie baked in a wood fire oven. We ordered ours half filled with chicken and half filled with sliced beef fillet, both halves had melting cheese and we couldn’t decide which one we liked more.
For the main course, we went for the signature Nişantaşi Tajin. The Tajin came on a skillet flaring with fire and the top bread layer was cut and rolled in front of us revealing grilled Adano kofta and prime beef fillet. We could barely wait to get our forks digging in it once it was served on the table. Marinated in a special sauce, a mix of vegetables and sweet prunes, the meat was so tender and full of flavor that it immediately sent our taste buds into celebration mode.
As if that wasn’t filling enough, Nişantaşi decided to treat us to one more of their special fire shows. When the waiter first started expertly banging with his tools to the sound of some traditional Turkish music we didn’t know that there was something cooking in the fire. He asked us to crack open a hard shell of salt with a small hammer that revealed a wrapped Tuzda Lamb Shank, two pieces of lamb that were so tender, the meat was basically falling off the bones.
Our senses were really delighted when we dug into the crunchy Dondurmalı Baklava that was served with vanilla ice cream and pistachio. No Turkish meal could ever be complete without the traditional Fıstıklı Künefe, a pistachio filled kunafa. And since we have an extra sweet tooth we ordered ours with Nutella on the side, yummy!
Other Dishes that Appealed
On another visit (definitely happening very soon) we’d love to give Nişantaşi’s delicious looking breakfast and Döner a try.
Décor & Ambience
The décor is really everything you’d expect from a Turkish restaurant. With hints of black and gold, the venue is very elegant and spacious. Their outdoor seating area overlooking the mall’s dancing fountain is great for a family gathering when the weather is nice outside.
It leads into an indoor area that is comfortably furnished, inviting you to stay and enjoy a leisurely meal. For those who are looking for a quieter spot, the small terrace on the other side of the restaurant has the perfect table for two.
Clientele mix: Families, friends and couples.
Price range: Affordable, the normal range
Good to know: You can enjoy the taste of Istanbul at home too with their home delivery service. Order online through their website
Contact information
Address: Cairo Festival City, New Cairo – Citystars Mall, Nasr City
Telephone: 0122 253 3336
Working hours: 10 am to 12 am
Facebook / Instagram: nisantasi.eg
Website: https://www.nisantasi.com.eg
Hyatt Regency Cairo West Officially Opens
Hyatt Regency Cairo West marks the return of the Hyatt brand to Egypt. The 250-room hotel is conveniently located within the well-established Pyramid Heights Business Park. Its closeness to business hubs, mega malls, and some of Egypt’s top tourist attractions, only 20 minutes away from the Pyramids of Giza and 10 minutes from the Grand Egyptian Museum makes it a premier destination for meetings, events, and travelers.
“We are proud to be opening our doors today and we look forward to welcoming guests to our contemporary spaces and versatile venues,” said Tarek El Masry, general manager at Hyatt Regency Cairo West. “Hyatt Regency Cairo West is situated on a high hill that overlooks the city and the Great Pyramids of Giza, providing the perfect setting for business meetings, relaxing stays and everything in between.”
Contemporary Guestrooms
Inspired by the Egyptian solar boats, the city hotel features 250 ultra-modern guestrooms that include 26 suites. For the first time in Cairo, Hyatt Regency Cairo West introduces Spa Rooms that offer in-room massage, hot tub, a sauna, and a massage table. The interior of each room is inspired by Egyptian culture with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Pyramids of Giza or the hotel’s beautiful pool and gardens.
Equipped with the latest technology and amenities, every room has smart mirrors and sensor LED lighting controls. Guests can also book a Regency Club room and upgrade their stay by gaining exclusive access to the Regency Club Lounge. At the Regency Club Lounge, guests can enjoy daily complimentary breakfast, all-day refreshments and evening cocktails and canapés.
Innovative Dining Concepts
The new ultra-modern city hotel, Hyatt Regency Cairo West, also boasts a first-class dining experience. The 6 dining outlets offer everything from locally inspired dishes to flavours from countries afar. For those seeking a unique culinary experience, Barranco invites guests and locals to a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian high-end cuisine, serving timeless and contemporary regional dishes to upbeat lounge music.
Park Food Hall, serves traditional European food-market specialties in 11 live-cooking stations. The Market offers fresh and balanced meals 24 hours a day, as well as refreshing beverages on the go. Hyatt Regency Cairo West is the first hotel in Egypt to feature a Starbucks, serving guests their favorite specialty coffees, teas, snacks, and more.
At the two swimming pools, the Pool Bar serves quick snacks and refreshing drinks. Meanwhile, The Lounge Bar is the perfect destination for small gatherings, business meetings, or relaxing pre-dinner drinks. The Plaza is an outdoor area that serves Egyptian Oriental dinner in a serene atmosphere that overlooks the city. Served fresh on the spot.
Recreation and Wellness
Hyatt Regency Cairo West is ideal for guests seeking a peaceful and productive stay. The hotel boasts a state-of-the-art fitness centre and cardio equipment as well as a year-round outdoor heated swimming pool to swim laps and relax. At the Spa guests can enjoy the sauna or steam room, a relaxing treatment in one of the seven treatment rooms, as well as take a dip into the whirlpool.
Stress-Free Meetings & Events
Hyatt Regency Cairo West offers the latest 360° LED screens technology in high definition at the hotel’s unique expandable CWEST Ballroom that can accommodate up to 500 guests in 4,606 square feet (428 square meters) of banquet space. Guests will enjoy the ground-breaking residence style breakout expanse at the Grand Meeting Residence, with unique home-like components, as well as live-cooking kitchen and lounge-style seating.
With Hyatt’s expansive technology-enabled facilities for meetings and events, a professional team is always one step ahead, anticipating every detail of a guest’s stay. Multifunctional meeting rooms and event spaces provide a total of 8,900 square feet (826 square meters). Hyatt Regency Cairo West boasts one of Cairo’s largest five-star outdoor venues ¬– The Arena. Featuring a view of the Giza Pyramids and with a capacity that accommodates up to 3,000 guests it is the perfect location for big-sized social events and weddings.
For more information, visit hyattregencycairowest.com
International Films at GFF 5th Edition
As we welcome the 5th Edition, GFF continues to serve as an important platform for works by global filmmakers. This year’s edition meets, and dare we say, exceeds all expectations, with an array of films across different genres falling under several categories. With a Narrative Competition, a Feature Documentary Competition, a Short Film Competition and an Official Selection out of Competition, there is a rich offering of works from diverse countries. International Films at GFF
Some of these received acclaim at recent international film festivals and will provide attendees with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse themselves in cinema at its most thought-provoking and visually exciting best.
Narrative Competition
The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic
Teemu Nikki | Finland | 2021 | Finnish | 82 min
Jaakko is blind and disabled, tied to his wheelchair. He loves Sirpa. Living far apart, they never met in person, but they meet every day over the phone. When Sirpa is overwhelmed by shocking news, Jaakko decides to go to her immediately despite never having left home because of his condition. He just needs to rely on the help of five strangers in five places to reach her.
Captain Volkonogov Escaped
Aleksey Chupov, Natasha Merkulova | Russia, Estonia, France | 2021 | Russian | 126 min
Captain Fedor Volkonogov is part of the law enforcement system. He’s appreciated and respected. But the Captain’s life takes an abrupt turn — he is criminally charged. He escapes, becoming a prey hunted by ex-colleagues. At night, he receives a warning from the afterlife that he is destined for Hell. But he still has a chance to change destiny and be accepted in Heaven if he repents and if one person sincerely forgives him. He sets out on a mission to find absolution with no idea of the trials he will face.
Clara Sola
Nathalie Álvarez Mesén | Sweden, Belgium, Costa Rica, Germany | 2021 | Spanish | 106 min
In a remote village in Costa Rica, 40-year-old Clara is believed to have a special connection to God. When her sexuality, which has always been repressed by her mother, is stirred by her attraction to her niece’s new boyfriend, Clara takes off on a journey to break free from social and religious conventions and become the master of her newfound powers.
Compartment No.6
Juho Kuosmanen | Finland, Germany, Estonia, Russia | 2021 | Russian, Finnish | 107 min
A young Finnish woman escapes an enigmatic love affair in Moscow by boarding a train to the arctic port of Murmansk. Forced to share the long ride and a tiny sleeping car with a Russian miner, the unexpected encounter leads the occupants of compartment no.6 to face the truth about their own yearning for human connection. The film won the Grand Prix at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. International Films at GFF
Murina
Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović | Croatia, Brazil, USA, Slovenia | 2021 | Croatian, English | 92 min
Tensions rise between restless teenager Julija and her oppressive father Ante when an old family friend arrives at their Croatian island home. As Ante attempts to broker a life-changing deal, their tranquil yet isolated existence leaves Julija wanting more from this influential visitor, who provides a taste of liberation over a weekend laid bare to desire and violence.
Once Upon a Time in Calcutta
Aditya Vikram Sengupta | India, France, Norway | 2021 | Bengali | 135 min
After the loss of her daughter, Ela not only loses her identity as a mother, but also the only reason to be with her husband. When she’s refused a loan by the bank, her boss, a Ponzi scheme owner, makes her an offer she struggles to accept. Ela reconnects with her stepbrother to reclaim her half of the old family theatre, but he refuses, blaming her for his own fate.
Playground
Laura Wandel | Belgium | 2021 | French | 72 min
Set in Belgium, the film tells the story of 7-year-old Nora and her older brother Abel as they go back to school. When Nora witnesses Abel being bullied by other kids, she rushes to protect him. When she wants to warn their father, Abel forces her to remain silent. Torn between the worlds of the child and the adult, Nora is caught in a conflict of loyalty, but will ultimately find her place.
Sundown
Michel Franco | Mexico, France, Sweden | 2021 | Spanish, English | 83 min
From the outside, it would appear that Neil Bennett, a wealthy Briton vacationing with loved ones at a luxury resort in Acapulco, wants for nothing. Until, that is, a single phone call shatters his idyll: there’s been a death in the family. Sundown is an incisive study of class disparity and familial strife.
White Building
Kavich Neang | Cambodia, France, China | 2021 | Khmer | 90 min
20-year-old Samnang and two of his friends live in the landmark White Building, a slum in Phnom Penh, a rapidly changing city. When the White Building is set to be demolished, Samnang observes his father’s unsuccessful attempt to unite his divided neighbors to gain governmental compensation for the moving residents, while he himself must face his best friend’s departure from Cambodia.
The Worst Person in the World
Joachim Trier | Norway, France, Sweden, Denmark | 2021 | Norwegian | 127 min
Julie is turning thirty and her life is an existential mess. One night, she gatecrashes a party and meets the young and charming Eivind. She breaks up with her boyfriend Aksel and throws herself into yet another new relationship, hoping for a new perspective on her life, only to realize that some life choices are already behind her. The film premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where Renate Reinsve won the Best Actress award for her performance.
Feature Documentary Competition
Life of Ivanna
Renato Borrayo Serrano | Russia, Norway, Estonia, Finland | 2021 | Russian, Nenets | 80 min
Life is raw and harsh out in the Arctic tundra, where young Ivanna lives a nomadic life with her five children. Portrayed as a tough and charismatic woman, she is put to the test when she has to give up the traditional life of the Nenets people and move to the city.
A Man and a Camera
Guido Hendrikx | The Netherlands | 2021 | Dutch | 65 min
The story follows an enigmatic entity that roams the Dutch hinterlands, silently pointing a camera at all that it encounters. Soon, it finds itself standing in front of a doorway and encounters a diverse group of people. Met with an uninvited, inscrutable camera operator, how will the region’s inhabitants respond?
Ostrov – Lost Island
Svetlana Rodina, Laurent Stoop | Switzerland | 2021 | Russian | 92 min
For Ivan, the stubborn descendant of a dynasty of fishermen, there is only one job: illegal fishing for caviar. Ivan was imprisoned twice for poaching, and yet he goes out to sea again. They want their children, Anton and Alina, to have a better future somewhere else, but Anton has already started to go out to sea.
The Quest for Tonewood
Hans Lukas Hansen | Norway | 2021 | Bosnian, English, Italian | 90 min
In certain alpine forests, one might find special trees that are worth their weight in gold thanks to the unique ability of their wood to amplify sound, which makes it the ideal material for the best string instruments in the world. This film is about the quest for these magical trees and their “tonewood”—a gift so rare, so secret, and so remote, that finding the perfect one can be the quest of a lifetime.
Sabaya
Hogir Hirori | Sweden | 2021 | Arabic, Kurdish | 91 min
With just a mobile phone and a gun, Mahmud, Ziyad, and their group risk their lives by trying to save Yazidi women and girls being held by ISIS as Sabaya (sex slaves) in the most dangerous camp in the Middle East, Al-Hol in Syria. The film received the Jury Prize at the 2021 Hong Kong Film Festival and the World Documentary Prize at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. International Films at GFF
Silence of the Tides
Pieter-Rim de Kroon | Netherlands | 2020 | No Dialogue | 102 min
The Wadden Sea is unique in both flora and fauna, but even the human life that unfolds in the world’s largest wetland region has a special character. The area starts at the Danish city of Esbjerg and stretches across Germany into the Netherlands, but the changing seasons and the perpetual ebb and flow mean that the landscape is constantly changing.
This Rain Will Never Stop
Alina Gorlova | Ukraine, Germany, Latvia | 2020 | Arabic, German, Kurdish, Russian, Ukrainian | 104 min
Taking the audience on a powerful journey through humanity’s endless loop of war and peace, the film follows 20-year-old Andriy Suleyman, a volunteer with the Red Cross. He struggles to secure a sustainable future as he faces the dilemma of whether to escape the violent military conflict or help relieve the suffering of war-injured patients.
Apallou
Niko Avgoustidi | France, Greece | 2021 | Greek | 20 min
As a grandson returns to his ancestral village for the winter, a grandfather too returns, but from death, to see the grandson one last time. Meanwhile, the village is unable to cope with the homecomings that occurred out of love.
Branka
Ákos K. Kovács | Hungary | 2021 | Bosnian, Hungarian, Serbian | 20 min
Set in Yugoslavia during the Croatian-Serbian war in 1991, Branka is a chilling thriller based on true child-abduction stories in Serbia. Far away from war zones, the eponymous protagonist gets a job at a maternity ward of a state hospital. The young woman is all alone, but soon discovers that loneliness is not the hardest burden that she has to carry, as newborns are disappearing from the hospital.
Short Film Competition
Creature
María Silvia Esteve | Argentina, Switzerland | 2021 | Spanish | 16 min
In the depths of her mind, pain takes the form of a creature. A love relationship unleashes the obscurity within it to evoke a world of shadows into the real world.
Displaced
Samir Karahoda | Kosovo | 2021 | Albanian, Turkish | 15 min
In post-war Kosovo, driven by the ambition of keeping their beloved sport alive, two local table-tennis players wander from one obscure location to another, carrying with them the only possession of the club: their tables.
Hair Tie, Egg, Homework Books
Luo Runxiao | China | 2021 | Mandarin | 14 min
As a model student, 5th grader Lin Yuqi is assigned to give a speech about her family at the parents’ meeting one evening. But after Lin finds out that she shares the same secret with a mischievous classmate who takes away her hair tie, she starts to have second thoughts.
His Name Was Cargo
Marco Signoretti | Italy | 2021 | Italian | 17 min
In Italy, in the late 1960s, two strangers arrive at a village in the south of the country. The first one has a movie camera and the second one has a gun. Crossing that wasteland, the two will have an unexpected opportunity to change the course of history.
Holy Son
Aliosha Messine | Italy | 2021 | Italian | 20 min
The daily routine of a young couple is disturbed by some shocking news. A strange dream appears to herald a terrible and, at the same time, wonderful truth.
The Journey
Ève Saint-Louis | Canada | 2021 | French | 22 min
After a year away from home, Chantale, who now lives and studies in Paris, returns to Quebec City, to spend the holidays with her mother and sister. Against all odds, her father, with whom she has a contentious relationship, has offered to pick her up at the airport. The Journey tells the story of their reunion: a path strewn with obstacles, where nothing goes as planned.
Junie
Grégoire Graesslin | Belgium, France | 2020 | French | 23 min
The plot follows the unusual, thrilling story of Junie, a young woman and the only female farmer on an isolated farm, where she works as an apprentice for a gruff farmer. Junie suffers from a strange illness: every morning, she wakes up in the middle of the countryside, lost and confused.
Katia
Andrey Natotsinsky | Russia | 2021 | Russian | 19 min
After her daughter’s death, Galina remains absolutely alone and loses the meaning of life. Suddenly, she finds the reincarnation of her daughter in a prostitute, whom she sees near the elevator of her house. After inviting her to her home, Galina learns that the girl plans to leave the country the following day. International Films at GFF
The Last Day of Patriarchy
Olmo Omerzu | Slovenia, Czech Republic, France | 2021 | Czech | 15 min
Nina is pregnant by Jakub. Today, he introduces her to his family. They’re all gathered in the hospital at the bedside of his grandfather. Just as the young lady tries to put on a brave face, she is faced with the surprising reaction of the dying relative: he wants to see her breasts. This sparks a debate to which she is not invited – should the patriarch’s last wish be satisfied?
Lili Alone
Zou Jing | China, Hong Kong, Singapore | 2021 | Mandarin Chinese | 22 min
Lili, a young mother, lives with her gambler husband in a remote part of Sichuan. Lonely and poor, she heads for the city in a bid to earn enough money to save her dying father.
Noir-Soleil
Marie Larrivé | France | 2021 | French, English, Italian | 20 min
After an earthquake in Naples bay, the body of a man is found. The Italian police believe the man killed himself 40 years ago. They contact his son Dino and granddaughter Victoria for a DNA test. During this unexpected journey together, the young woman digs into her father’s mysterious past, while Dino immerses himself unwillingly in the scenery of his childhood.
On Solid Ground
Jela Hasler | Switzerland | 2021 | German | 12 min
It’s summertime in a city and the coolness of a morning swim in the river quickly vanishes as the heat exacerbates insignificant daily nuisances. As Eli tries to escape the narrowness and agitation of the city, she keeps on facing aggression. Her rage starts to build up.
Strangers
Nora Longatti | Switzerland | 2021 | German, Russian | 20 min
In the middle of an anonymous city, a person collapses, apparently having lost consciousness. Some strangers pass her by, while others embrace her.
Ulysses Must Go
Anna Belguermi | France | 2021 | French | 13 min
Sara wants to get rid of her dog. Well, it’s not hers, it’s her lover’s. There’s no problem except that her lover is dead. And the dog pound won’t take it until tomorrow. And that means another whole day alone with the dog.
Official Selection Out of Competition
Anima
Liliya Timirzyanova | Russia | 2021 | Russian | 62 min
Anna, a conductor, suddenly leaves the city and lives alone in the northern forest on the seashore. One day, a chorister comes to her in the hope of returning Anna to her destiny but ends up staying with her as the understanding of time and the line between reality and dreams is erased.
Animal
Cyril Dion | France | 2021 | French | 120 min
16-year-old Bella and Vipulan are part of a generation that’s convinced its future is in danger. Between climate change and the sixth mass extinction of wildlife, their world could well be uninhabitable 50 years from now. International Films at GFF
Arthur Rambo
Laurent Cantet | France | 2021 | French | 86 min
A celebrated author’s career detonates after his vicious online alter-ego is exposed in Laurent Cantet’s drama about the precarity of being both French and Arab in modern Paris.
Bigger Than Us
Flore Vasseur | France | 2021 | French | 96 min
In every corner of the world, young people raise their voices regarding climate change issues, inequality, migration, agriculture, education, gun control, and even corruption. Leading a quest to join forces with the activists of the new generation, 18-year-old Indonesian Melati Wijsen starts lobbying her local government to ban the sale and distribution of plastic bags in her island, Bali.
Coppelia
Jeff Tudor, Steven de Beul, Ben Tesseur | Netherlands, Germany, Belgium | 2021 | No Dialogue | 82 min
In a modern retelling of the love story of Franz and the Swan, Coppelia tells the story of Dr. Coppelius, a cosmetic surgeon, whose lure of superficial beauty poisons the town. Swan must uncover the truth about the popular newcomer who puts the life of her beloved Franz in danger.
The Crossing
Florence Miailhe | France, Germany, Czech Republic | 2021 | French | 84 min
In an unnamed Eastern European country, siblings Kyona and Adriel are separated from their parents after their home is destroyed. They have no choice but to make a risky journey across the border, where their parents and a safe shelter await them.
Drift Away
Xavier Beauvois | France | 2021 | French | 115 min
Laurent is a police officer in a small town in Normandy, who plans to wed Marie, with whom he has a daughter. Despite the misery he witnesses on a daily basis, he loves his job. One day while trying to save a farmer who’s threatening to commit suicide, he accidentally kills him. International Films at GFF
Everything Went Fine
François Ozon | France | 2021 | French | 113 min
When 85-year-old André has a stroke, his daughter Emmanuèle hurries to be at his bedside. As he lies sick and half-paralyzed in his hospital bed, André asks Emmanuèle to help him put an end to his life
Flee
Jonas Poher Rasmussen | Denmark, France, Sweden, Norway | 2021 | Danish, Dari, English, French
Russian | 90 min
An Afghan refugee agrees to tell a remarkable personal narrative of persecution and escape on the condition that his identity is not revealed. As a means of fulfilling that wish, his filmmaker friend uses striking animation to not only protect this young man, but also enhance his tale, bending time and memory to recount a visceral journey dictated by deception, loneliness, and a relentless will to survive. The film, which had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, is unbound by documentary constraints and is swept up in an astonishing array of archival footage.
The French Dispatch
Wes Anderson | United Kingdom, France, Germany | 2021 | English | 107 min
When Arthur Howitzer, Jr. dies, his colleagues, the staff of The French Dispatch, a widely-circulating American magazine based in the French city of Ennui-sur-Blas., convene to write his obituary. Howitzer’s memories flow into four stories.
Happening
Audrey Diwan | France | 2021 | French | 100 min
France, 1963. Anne is a bright young student with a promising future ahead of her. When she becomes pregnant, she sees the opportunity to finish her studies and escape the constraints of her social background disappearing.
I Am Your Man
Maria Schrader | Germany | 2021 | German | 102 min
Alma is a scientist at the famous Pergamon Museum in Berlin. In order to obtain research funds for her work, she is persuaded to participate in an extraordinary study, where, for three weeks, she has to live with a humanoid robot tailored to her character and needs, whose artificial intelligence means it’s designed to be the perfect life partner for her.
Invisible Demons
Rahul Jain | India, Finland, Germany | 2021 | English, Hindi | 70 min
The film delivers a visceral and immersive journey through the stories of just a few of Delhi’s 30 million inhabitants fighting to survive.
Mama, I’m Home
Vladimir Bitokov | Russia | 2021 | Russian | 104 min
Tonya is a bus-driver in a village in Nalchik. With her daughter, Tonya eagerly awaits the return of her only son, who is fighting for a Russian military contractor in Syria. When Tonya is told he’d been killed in action, she refuses to believe it. When all efforts to silence her are fruitless, a strange young man arrives on her doorstep.
Natural Light
Dénes Nagy | Hungary, France, Germany, Latvia | 2021 | Hungarian, Russian | 103 min
A simple farmer drafted in the Hungarian army finds himself a witness to a mass murder. The film shows the story of the man, as he is dragged into moral ambiguity and has to constantly decide whether he will put himself first, adapt to the situation, or do the right thing.
Nitram
Justin Kurzel | Australia | 2021 | English | 110 min
Nitram lives with his mother and father in suburban Australia in the mid 1990s. He lives a life of isolation and frustration, never being able to fit in. That is until he unexpectedly finds a close friend in a reclusive heiress, Helen. However, when that relationship meets a tragic end and Nitram’s loneliness and anger grow, he begins a slow descent that leads to disaster. Actor Caleb Landry Jones received the Best Actor Award for his portrayal of the titular character at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
One Second
Zhang Yimou | China | 2020 | Mandarin | 105 min
Set in China during the Cultural Revolution, a nameless prisoner escapes from a labor camp, risking everything to search for a stolen film reel, in which his long-lost daughter appears. On his way, he encounters a scruffy orphan girl, who’s haunted by her own terrible loss.
Paris, 13th District
Jacques Audiard | France | 2021 | French | 106 min
Paris, 13th District today. Emilie meets Camille, who is attracted to Nora, who crosses the path of Amber. These three girls and one boy redefine what modern love is
Unclenching the Fists
Kira Kovalenko | Georgia, Russia | 2021 | Russian | 97 min
In a former mining town in North Ossetia, a young woman struggles to escape the stifling hold of the family she loves as much as she rejects. The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where it received the Un Certain Regard Award.
Dare to Rule the Red Carpet With These 15 Striking Looks
We’ve curated some striking looks for the Red Carpet to get in that glamorous mood, just in time for festival season. We’re practicing our Red Carpet poses just looking at these sizzling outfits. red carpet looks
Women:
- Fuchsia Pink Draped Tulle Dress Featuring a Crystallized Belt– Rami Kadi
- The Temple of Flora- Rami Kadi
- La Lumiére Darcey Dress– Temraza
- Heart Of Porcelain 2021- Kojak
- Nadine Makar Couture
- Yasmine Yeya –Maison Yeya
- Maram Borhan Designs
- Rafik Zaki Designs
- Zahan
- Black Blazer Dress– Massimo Dutti
- Sleeveless Jumpsuit- Massimo Dutti
- Tiered Mesh Ruffle Maxi Dress –Lipsy
- Maysa Waheed
- Beaded Two Piece Cocktail Gown- Sherri Hill
- Fitted Sequin Cocktail Gown- Sherri Hill
Men:
- Moaaz El Behairy
- 3 piece Suit- Daniel Hechter
- Regular Fit Italian Wool Check Suit- Concrete
- Slim Fit Houndstooth Wool Blazer Navy Blue- Massimo Dutti
- Square Sodalite Cufflinks– Tateossian
- Happy Claret Red Tuxedo, Groom Suit– SARAR
- Happy Black Tuxedo Suit Set -SARAR
- Water Resistance Decor Cufflinks– Cartier
- Satin Bow Tie – Tom Ford red carpet looks
- O’Connor Satin-Trim Two Piece Tuxedo –Tom Ford
- Men’s Lace-up Shoes– Gucci
- Men’s Classic Made In Portugal Suit-Sacoor Brothers
- Slim Fit Suit –Sacoor Brothers
Soft Glamorous Makeup Looks To Try Out By 3 Egyptian Makeup Artists
If you’re a beauty junkie, you know that navigating the world of makeup can be a pretty overwhelming experience, after all, makeup can really bring an outfit together.
Here are three Egyptian makeup artists stealing the scene right now; see how they achieve their flawless looks on some of our most loved celebs. Ready, set, glam!
Natural Glamour
Makeup Artist: Noha Ezz Eldin
Actress: Tara Emad
- Lancôme, Hypnose Palette in Bronze Absolu.
- Mac Cosmetics, Lipstick in Ruby Roo. Glamorous Makeup Looks
- Lancôme, Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Foundation in “310 Bisque Cool”.
- Anastasia Beverly Hills, Blush Trio in “Peachy Love”.
Semi-Natural Glow
Makeup Artist: Aya Abdel Hamid
Actress: Huda El Mufti
- Estée Lauder Double Wear 24hour wear Flawless natural matte foundation In 3W 1.5
- Lancôme Grandiose Bendable Liquid Eyeliner.
- Huda Beauty, Samantha Lashes. Glamorous Makeup Looks
- Kiko Milano, Unlimited Double Touch Liquid Lipstick and Gloss.
- Nars Highlighter in The Shade Fort De France (Champagne).
Sultry Glow
Makeup Artist: Shariff Tanyous
Actress: Salma Abu Deif
- Huda Beauty Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette in Brown.
- Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Cream Plus Powder Blush Duo in Do You Know Her? Glamorous Makeup Looks
- Maybelline Super Stay Liquid Lipstick in Driver.
Simple Glamour
Makeup Artist: Unknown
Actress: Yasmine Sabri
- Mac Studio Foundation In.
- Cheek To Chic Pillow Talk – Charlotte Tilbury.
- Precisely My Brow Pencil in Medium Deep Brown. Glamorous Makeup Looks
- Color Riche Ultra Matte Nude Lipstick In 02 No Cliché – L’Oréal.
EatDucate’s Berry Oat Pie and Halloumi Salad Recipes
Cooler days have us craving comfort food and Eatducate never fails to tantalize our taste buds. Try these 2 dishes to fall for! *Pun intended* The berry oat pie and halloumi salad.
Halloumi Salad
Ingredients:
- 70g halloumi fall recipes
- 150g arugula (torn)
- 100g lettuce (torn)
- 1/2 green apple
- 10 roasted almonds
- 2 tsp chopped mint
- 1/2 red onion, chopped (optional)
For the Dressing:
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp mustard
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp sumac
Preparation:
- Slice the halloumi and fry on both sides in a non-stick pan. Dice the apple and mix together with halloumi, arugula, lettuce and mint. fall recipes
- Add halloumi slices and sprinkle with roasted almonds. Drizzle with dressing and serve!
Berry Oat Pie
Ingredients:
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp stevia
- 2 1/2 cups almond milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 4 cups berries (or 3 apples if you want to make an apple pie instead, you can also use any other fruit.)
Preparation:
- Use non-stick cooking spray to lightly grease an 8X12-inch or 9X13-inch baking pan, or for super thick oatmeal, use a 9X9-inch, and set aside. Preheat the oven to 325o F (don’t preheat the oven if making ahead of time and refrigerating overnight).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and stevia. fall recipes
- In a large liquid measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and vanilla.
- Pour this mixture over the dry ingredients and add the melted coconut oil. Stir or whisk to combine.
- Arrange the berries evenly over the bottom of the baking dish and pour the oatmeal mixture over the top. You can cover and refrigerate overnight at this point or bake right away (uncover before baking the next morning). fall recipes
- Bake for 35-45 minutes until the top is golden and the mixture is set and not jiggly.
Film Editor Ahmed Hafez Steps Out of His Editing Suite
Having had an impressive career to date and still a promising future to come, film editor Ahmed Hafez talks editing. The genius behind the awe-inspiring The Blue Elephant, Torab Al Mas, Hepta, El Sheikh Jackson, and series including Paranormal and Every Week Has A Friday brought us up to speed on everything to do with the film editing field in Egypt.
By Mariam Elhamy
How did you get a foothold in the world of video and film editing?
It wasn’t by coincidence. My dad used to work in the advertising agency Wekalet El Ahram, so I went there to learn graphics when I was in middle school. A couple of weeks after I started, I came across the post-production room and heard the sounds of the frames being played so I snuck in to watch and learn. Ahmed Hafez
I was immediately fascinated by the relationship between sound and image, and that’s when I decided to learn editing. I used to sit and watch every day until one time an editor couldn’t come and they gave me a shot at a documentary. They were astounded with the results because I was just a kid and this gave me some confidence to resolve that I want to do this for a living.
Bit-by-bit I started getting clips and ads. I worked alongside Hadi El Bagoury on many videos, advertisements, music videos and his first film.
45 Days was the first film I got from director Ahmed Yousry, he insisted that I work with him although the production company rejected the idea because I didn’t work as an assistant editor. Esaad Younis was the producer, she was the one who decided she wanted fresh blood and a young talent, so they gave me a shot and the film turned out really well for its time.
Was there any particular film that really kick-started your career?
I did 45 Days when I was 21 years old, starring Ahmed El Fishawy and Ezzat Abou Aouf. Ahmed El Fishawy was a dear friend of mine at the time. He recommended me to Sandra Nashaat who needed someone for her film The Hostage. It was a dream to work with someone as big as Sandra Nashaat so early on in my career. Ahmed Hafez
Film editing is critical to the success of any work, how closely do you need to collaborate with the director, DOP, scriptwriter and other film crew?
The editor and the director are like a married couple. They sit alone together in a room for months and sometimes even more than a year to work on a film. They might agree on things and everything works out magically but they also have differences. They come up with many options but in the end, the upper hand and the final say is always up to the director.
Thankfully everyone I’ve worked with so far has given me the space to express my own style so I get to have good input in my projects. As for the DOP, the rest of the crew and the cast, they always go back to the editor and ask about their work because the editor does the cuts and knows how to focus on bringing out the best of their work.
What are the challenges involved?
Every day there’s a new challenge. You want to create a scene that tells the story right. Every scene as a standalone might be done well, but as a whole when you put it all together it might not match the harmony of the rest of the scenes. Subsequently, you have to change it or rearrange the structure to make it work.
It’s very stressful to try to tailor your mind to each different project and to do something that is new and different from what you’ve done before. Editing is like art, not everyone has to agree on whether they like it but you try to make something that most people would like. Ahmed Hafez
The final version or draft of the script is always written in the editor’s room with the help of the scriptwriter, the director and the producer. We cut lines, prolong scenes, add pauses and play with music or voice over. Any comment said in the editor’s room is free money, always appreciated and taken into consideration.
Do you have a consistent approach to editing, or is there a need to be flexible according to the genre of the material?
First, I watch all of the material, all the takes and I put marks, could be a pause, a reaction, or a certain word. After I do the selection, I try to minimize and put together all the picks that I like.
Cuts are generally done in a way that the audience can’t tell when they happen, but a good editor knows when not to cut scenes and let it flow as one piece.
How have new developments in technology changed the way you work?
Technological developments help me the most in what I do. When I first started, I started on linear montage, a traditional tape-based editing system. Today, there’s digital montage, meaning that I can do several options by saving different copies of the same scene. We had 24 drafts by the end of The Blue Elephant! Ahmed Hafez
Technology also made music and sound effects become a part of montage, as well as color correction and filters, which can totally alter the mood or feel of a scene.
Young people today can make and montage a film using just their phone. This definitely creates a higher challenge but also pushes you to always stay updated.
Which films have you most enjoyed working on?
Every film is special in its own way with its own memories, but the films I really enjoyed working on the most were Torab Al Mas, The Blue Elephant, and Hepta. I really like working with Marwan Hamed, Hadi El Bagoury and I can’t forget my first film with Sandra Nashaat. I worked with a Turkish director on a Turkish/Syrian film called Mesafer, which I cherish very much.
What attributes would you consider essential for anyone considering a career in this field?
Anyone who wants to work in montage needs to have incredible patience, storytelling skills, sense and most importantly teamwork. They need not to care about fame because people are not necessarily going to know them.
They have to know that they’re going to be a small part in a very big machine. Only those working in the field understand and appreciate the amount of effort that we put in.
Are there any film editors whose work you admire? Which films in particular and why?
Walter Murch who did The Godfather. Tom Cross who did Whiplash and La La Land; I love watching his work and I learn a lot from him. Being a strong storyteller, he always has something different to show. Locally, I really learned a lot from Khaled Marei.
Quickfire round:
Memorable books read this year?
Save the Cat! It has to do with script writing, scenario, plot and film casting.
Time for hobbies?
Squash or kite surfing whenever I have time. Ahmed Hafez
Comfort food?
Molokheya, Macarona Bechamel and seafood.
Best way to relax?
The sea and any greenery. Ahmed Hafez
Most productive time of day?
Early morning. The first 5 hours in the day from 7 am to 1 pm are my most productive hours.
Favorite holiday location?
El Gouna, Alexandria in winter and Italy.
See The Difference Between Egyptian Movie Posters Then and Now
When did the movie poster first appear? It was in France! Yup, it was the year 1896, and the film was Cinématographe Lumière; it was the world’s first-ever public movie screening. movie posters
From that point on, the movie poster has taken on a life of its own, with artists taking liberties in creating contemporary tableaus that conveyed the mood and feel of the movie they represented. The great director Stanley Kubrick described the art of the movie poster as the ability to reduce what the film director portrayed in 350,000 frames in just one picture.
In Egypt, it was Alexandria that first witnessed the beginning of the art of cinema, it also witnessed the beginning of the art of advertising films using the paper plate, on which some of the scenes, heroes and different situations from the film were drawn.
This was the only means of attracting the audience to the cinemas at the time, widely known to this day as affiche (French for poster). movie posters
It was mainly a handful of Greek artists, part of the larger Greek community of Alexandria at the time that became known as the best affiche artists in cinema. Most famous of them was Khawaja Nicholas, who established the first advertising workshop in all of Egypt, and who produced generations of painters and calligraphers, and the art of movie poster was established. movie posters
The famous film production house Studio Misr was established in 1935 as one of the projects of the Misr Company for Acting and Cinema (founded by Talaat Harb in 1925), the cinematic weight moved to Cairo, and with it many of the affiche artists who established workshops there.
Among the most famous workshops in this field were huge advertising workshops, such as the Announcing Al-Thaghr workshop (originally owned by Khamis Al-Thaghr Al-Sakandari), Muhammad Muftah’s workshop, Abdo Muhammad’s workshop, Ali Jaber’s workshop, Al-Masry’s workshop, owned by Waheed Shaer, and the Arab Cinema Presses by the artist Jusoor, responsible for posters for hundreds of films. movie posters