Why We Need More Places Like Zawya in Egypt
Most of the Egyptian or Arab movies that make it to the usual screens and cinemas are of little value. The real good ones that receive international credit are neglected or simply unknown. Zawya, located in Downtown’s Cinema Odeon, is a movie theater that screens movies from all around the world. The movies screened in Zawya are usually filled with social and artistic value.
Misr International Films launched Zawya in March 2014 as an extension of the Panorama of the European Film (2004). The main focus of Zawya was the local independent films.
The movie theater encourages young Egyptian and Arab filmmakers. It screens short films, documentaries, and experimental works. One of the great movies that Zawya screened in 2016 is the Tunisian movie “As I Open My Eyes.”
The movie explores themes of dictatorship and social conflict under Bin Ali’s Regime. The movie tracks the life of a young musician and her band Joujma that writes and performs songs. The songs attack the worsening conditions of Tunisia at that time, the lack of freedom, and the hardships the Tunisian citizens face. Zawya also screens European and American movies, which makes it by far the most inclusive movies theater in Egypt. The theater is screening a Saudi romantic comedy at the moment, called Baraka Meets Baraka.
Egypt needs more places like this. Places where art doesn’t die and lives on, and on, and on.
WE SAID THIS: For more on their movie schedules, click here.
