There’s a lot coming to Egyptian cinemas, and honestly, our watchlist is getting a little crowded. From big-name collaborations and fresh faces to comedies, romances and stories that take a darker turn, these are the upcoming Egyptian movies we’re most excited to see.
Mahmoud El Tany
Ahmed Ghazi and Ahmed Bahr “Kozbara” are at the centre of Mahmoud El Tany, playing two very different characters who somehow end up switching lives. Coming from completely different social backgrounds, the two are forced to navigate each other’s worlds, which naturally means plenty of chaos, awkward moments and comedic situations. Caroline Azmy and Jana Al-Ashqar also star, with Abdul Aziz Al-Najjar directing. The movie is expected in cinemas August 12.
Red Flag
What happens when trust starts getting a little shaky in a relationship? Red Flag takes that question and turns it into a social comedy about love, marriage, jealousy and everything that can go wrong when doubt creeps in.
Ahmed Hatem plays a pilot whose relationship with his wife, an advertising company manager, starts facing some serious complications. As trust, suspicion and betrayal enter the picture, their everyday relationship becomes a lot more complicated. Jamila Awad, Sherif Moneer, Nesreen Amin and Entsar also star, with Mahmoud Karim directing.
Mosem El Teen
Riham Abdel Ghafour and Ahmed Mekky are teaming up for a new film directed by Mohamed Shaker Khodeir — and that alone is enough to get our attention. The plot is still being kept under wraps, so we don’t really know what to expect just yet. But Mekky’s return to the big screen after 13 years? Yeah, that’s reason enough to have this one on the list.
Salayef El Ninja
Menna Shalaby and Hannah El-Zahed are playing sisters-in-law in Salayef El Ninja and let’s just say their relationship is not exactly peaceful. Their constant disagreements are at the heart of the film, turning everyday family tension into a string of increasingly chaotic and funny situations.
Directed by Ahmed El Ganainy, the movie is an Egyptian adaptation of the Turkish film Sisters-In-Law at War, so expect clashing personalities, family drama and two women who clearly need a little more personal space.
Hetta Menni
Mohamed Mamdouh, Huda El Mufti and Ali Sobhy lead Hetta Menni, a film that starts with a father facing a financial crisis and quickly takes a much darker turn.
Desperate to find a way out, he gets pulled into the world of organ trafficking, sending him into a dangerous journey where he’s forced to make some seriously difficult choices. Directed by Mariam Ahmadi, the film mixes suspense and drama with a story about family, sacrifice and just how far someone might go for the people they love.
Watar Wahid
Wegz is heading to the big screen in Watar Wahid alonside major stars Asser Yassin, Tara Emad, and Mayan El Sayed under the direction of Ali Elarabi. We don’t know too much about the story just yet, but with Wegz taking on a new cinematic role, this is definitely one we’ll be keeping an eye on.
Taha El Ghareeb
Hassan El Raddad stars as Taha, a man trying to deal with the aftermath of a painful loss, in Taha El Ghareeb. Tara Emad plays a grief coach who helps him work through his struggles, and somewhere along the way, the two develop a love story of their own.
The film also stars Khaled El Sawy, Mai Elkadi, Tamer Hashem, and Retal Abdel Aziz, and is directed by Osman Abou Laban. After wrapping production earlier this year, the film is currently expected to hit cinemas in November.
El Set Lamma
Yousra is leading an all-star cast in El Set Lamma, but this time she’s not just here to deliver a great performance — she’s starting a movement. Yousra plays Donia El Kurdi, a media activist who launches “Women Have the Right to Object” (Veto), a campaign against violence towards women.
As the campaign brings her into contact with a series of women and their stories, it also gets some very mixed reactions from the men and people around them. The result is a mix of comedy and social conflict that takes aim at women’s rights and some of the traditional ideas surrounding them. Yasmin Raeis, Maged El Masry, Dorra, Amr abdul Gelil, Mahmoud El Bezzawy, Rania Mansour, Donia Sami, Entsar and Ahmed Seyam also star, with Khaled Abou Gharib directing.
So, What Are We Watching First?
From two Mahmouds swapping lives to Yousra starting a whole campaign, sisters-in-law who can’t seem to get along and Ahmed Mekky finally returning to the big screen, there’s a pretty fun mix coming our way. Some of these films are still keeping their secrets, while others are already giving us plenty to talk about — either way, Egyptian cinema has given us a very full watchlist for the months ahead.
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