The new year opens with a number of film releases not to be missed. Check out our list below for films hitting Egypt's big screen in January, as well as upcoming Egyptian releases and films still in production. 11 January Fein Alby? (Where is My Heart?) Directed by: Ehab Rady Starring: Mostafa Amar, Yosra El-Lozy, Sherine Edward, Hameed El-Shaery A romantic comedy about a man who marries the woman he loves, only to become haunted by an old love and remain torn between the two. 18 January El-Armouty Fi Ard El-Nar (El-Armouty in the Line of Fire) Directed by: Ahmed Badry Starring: Ahmed Adam, Amira Fathy, Maged Mahrous, Mohamed Adel A revival of Ahmed Adam's comic character, El-Armouty after an 11 year hiatus. When El-Armouty travels on vacation, he eventually falls hostage to IS, and he faces the choice of joining, resisting or escaping. One of the films sub-themes is the influence of modern technology on life and current events. 18 January Yabany Asly (Native Japanese) Directed by: Mahmoud Karim Starring: Ahmed Eid, Mohamed Tharwat, Nada Mosa The story centers on Moharram, an Egyptian man who falls in love with a Japanese woman working at the Japanese embassy in Cairo. They marry and have children, who the woman takes back to Japan. In a visit to Japan Moharram tries to find them and bring them back to Egypt. Monkey Talks (Photo: part of promotional material for Monkey Talks) 20 January Yegaalo Amer (Prosperous Home) Directed by: Shady Aly Starring: Ahmed Rizk, Poussy, Bayoumy Fouad The film is written by Sayed El-Sobky, and centers on a man named Amer, who is paranoid and mistrusts everyone around him, including his wife who he divorces and remarries several times. 25 January El-Erd Beyetkalem (Monkey Talks) Directed by: Peter Mimi Starring: Ahmed El-Fishawy, Amr Waked and Riham Haggag The film is about two brothers, magicians Taha and Rashad El-Shenawy, who attempt to free their father from prison using a magic spell. 25 January Akher Deek Fi Masr (Last Hen in Egypt) Directed by: Amr Arafa Starring: Mohamed Ramadan, Mai Omar, Dina El-Sherbini, Mohamed Tharwat The comedy is about a man who nearly drowns but survives while attempting to flee the country illegally by sea. When he returns to his village, he finds that he is the only remaining member of the ‘Deek' family. Arrest Letter (Photo: Still from Arrest Letter) Films already released but awaiting Egyptian premiere and films still in production: Ali Meaza w Ibrahim (Ali, The Goat and Ibrahim) Directed by: Sherif El-Bendary Starring: Ali Sobhy, Ahmed Magdy, Nahed El-Sebai The story of a man who believes that his dead girlfriend has been reincarnated as a goat that he names Nada. At the healer's clinic, Ali meets Ibrahim, and they are both given the diagnosis of 'cursed.' When the healer prescribes a solution to break the spell, it sets the characters on an adventure that takes them to the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Nile. The film won the Muhr feature award for Best Actor at the 13th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), where it had its world premiere. Tesbah Ala Kheir (Good Night) Directed by: Mohamed Sami Starring: Tamer Hosny, Ahmed Zaher, Nour, Dorra Three men are exposed to difficult and embarrassing situations because of physical abnormalities, in a dark comedy about emotional damage. Gawab Eateqal (Arrest Letter) Directed by: Mohamed Sami Starring: Mohamed Ramadan, Mohamed Adel, Sayed Ragab Mohamed Ramadan is Khaled El-Degwy, a member of a terrorist group that conducts homicide operations in the name of Jihad. His younger brother, who insists on joining the group, is killed in a fight with one the group's members. Khaled turns on the group to avenge his brother's death, at the same time that he is summoned for arrest. Qesty Beyewgaany (My Mortgage Hurts) Directed by: Ehab Lamie Starring: Hany Ramzy, Amira Shrabi, Samar El-Sheikh With electricity prices rising, a man who works as an electricity rate collector falls into challenges and comic situations on duty while facing the tenants. Ali, The Goat and Ibrahim (Photo: courtesy of DIFF) El-Asleyeen (The Natives) Directed by: Marwan Hamed Starring: Menna Shalaby, Kinda Alloush, Khaled El-Sawy Ya Tehady ya Te'ady (Drive Slowly or Move Forward) Directed by: Khaled El-Helfawy Starring: Ayten Amer, Mohamed Shaheen, Mohamed Adel Mamnooa El-Eqterab aw El-Tasweer (No Approaching or Taking Photos) Directed by: Romani Saad Starring: Mervat Amin, Yosra El-Lozy, Mohamed Mahran, Bayoumy Fouad Fi Yom Men El Ayam (Someday) Directed by: Mohamed Mostafa Starring: Mahmoud Hemeida, Heba Magdy, Lotfy labib Fi Yom Men El Ayam (Photo: part of promotional material for Fi Yom Men El Ayam) El-Khaleya (The Cell) Directed by: Tarek El-Erian Starring: Ahmed Ezz, Ismail Sharaf El-Deen, Amina Khalil Akhlaq El-Abeed (Slave Morality) Directed by: Ayman Makram Starring: Khaled El-Sawy, Lotfy Labib, Yosra El-Lozy Kheir w Baraka (Goodness and Blessings) Directed by: Sameh Abdelaziz Starring: Ali Rabie, Mohamed Abdelrahman, Bayoumy Fouad Horoob Edterary (Forced Escape) Directed by: Ahmed Khaled Mousa Starring: Ahmed El-Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel One Plus One Makes a Pharoah's Chocolate Cake Directed by: Marouan Omara, Islam Kamal An experimental documentary about festival music pioneer Islam Chipsy, who mixes electronica with acoustic sounds on his keyboard. The film is shot in VHS format and produced by the Alexandria-based studio Fig Leaf. It is set to premiere at the Expanded Forum of Berlinale. This is the second year for Fig Leaf to have a film entered in Berlinale. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture
