Egyptian cinema is making a strong showing at this year’s Casablanca Arab Film Festival, taking place from July 17 to 24, with four films selected for the festival’s competition lineup. While each film tells a completely different story, they all shine a light on the everyday moments, social tensions, and personal struggles that make for compelling cinema. From bureaucratic nightmares and family dynamics to grief and class conflict, here’s a look at the Egyptian films representing the country this year.
Complaint No. 713317 — Director Yasser Shafiey
Sometimes, all it takes is a broken fridge to throw life completely off track.
Complaint No. 713317 follows Magdy and Sama, a retired couple in their 60s who enjoy a quiet life together in their Cairo apartment. But when their refrigerator suddenly breaks down, what should have been a quick repair turns into an endless battle with an unreliable maintenance company.
As the weeks stretch into months, the broken appliance becomes a symbol of something much bigger. The couple finds themselves confronting a frustrating system, while also reflecting on the routine they’ve built and what purpose looks like later in life. Blending dry humor with sharp social commentary, the film stars Mahmoud Hemida, Sherine, and Hana Shiha.
32B — Director Mohamed Taher
Growing up doesn’t just come with awkward moments for teenagers—it can be just as overwhelming for parents.
32B is a short dark comedy about a loving but slightly clueless single father who suddenly finds himself trying to meet one of his teenage daughter’s new needs as she grows up. What begins as a simple errand quickly turns into a series of uncomfortable, funny, and surprisingly touching moments that test both his confidence and his parenting skills.
With humor at its core, the film explores fatherhood, positive masculinity, adolescence, and the everyday realities of raising a daughter alone. The cast is led by Mohamed Mamdouh, alongside Hana Shiha, Ahmed Dash, Gehad Hossam Eldein, and Jessica Hosam Eldin, bringing warmth and authenticity to a story that’s rarely told from a father’s perspective.
I Owe You a Touch — Director Marwan Elshafie
Following a personal tragedy, teenager Seif embarks on a journey to purify himself, believing that water may offer the sense of peace he’s searching for. But the road ahead proves far more complicated than he expected.
Rather than focusing only on the destination, I Owe You a Touch explores the emotional weight of grief, guilt, and healing. Through Seif’s quiet journey, the short film becomes a thoughtful coming-of-age story about loss, hope, and the difficult process of moving forward.
Cone — Director Mark Ayman
It’s hard to imagine a fight over a parking spot inspiring an award-worthy short film, but that’s exactly what happened with Cone.
The idea came to director Mark Ayman after a real-life argument in 2022 with a man claiming parking spaces on a public street for a nearby garage. Although the confrontation seemed trivial at first, it stayed with Ayman, raising questions about who gets to control public space and how power is exercised in everyday life.
He later developed those ideas into a script. The finished 20-minute film follows a university professor whose dispute with a garage worker over street parking gradually spirals into an intense battle of pride, ego, and control. As the rivalry grows, the professor’s beliefs—and eventually his sanity—begin to unravel, turning a simple neighborhood disagreement into a sharp reflection on class, power, and obsession.
A Diverse Lineup from Egypt
Together, these four films at th3 Casablanca Arab Film Festival highlight the range of stories emerging from Egypt’s new generation of filmmakers. Whether tackling family relationships, bureaucratic absurdity, grief, or the invisible power struggles woven into daily life, each one offers its own unique perspective.
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