The Netherlands Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC) will screen five short films that were awarded at Cairo's Shnit International Shortfilmfestival in 2016. The fourteen-year-old Shnit festival was launched in 2003 in Switzerland and went international in 2008. The festival aims to highlight short film productions as an independent art form across the globe. Shnit was held in Cairo and other cities around the world last October. The last edition marked Cairo's fifth year of participation in the festival, and was held for five days across several screening venues -- The AUC Greek Campus, The Swiss Club, Zawya cinema, IRC of the US Embassy, The Netherland-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC), CSA in Maadi, and ZigZag. The screening at NVIC will be followed by a Q&A session with filmmaker Wael Omar, who directed the short film Cairo Playground. Programme: A Reasonable Request Directed by Andrew Laurich, USA (2015 ) A desperate son reconnects with his estranged father over an absurd request. 9 Days From My Window in Aleppo Directed by Thomas Vroege, Floor van der Meulen & Issa Tourma, Netherlands/Syria (2015) The first nine days of the rapidly changing uprising in Aleppo; observations recorded by the renowned Syrian photographer Issa Touma from his window in the old city. Ameryka (America) Directed by Aleksandra Terpinska, Poland (2015) Once upon a time in America... Two friends – Anka and Dzastina – dream of a better life. When they decide to hitch-hike, an innocent adventure irreversibly changes their relationship. Balcony Directed by Toby Fell-Holden, United Kingdom (2015) Tina, a troubled teenage girl, is attracted to Dana, an Afghani girl, who, as Tina tells us, is oppressively victimised by her substance abusing father, Karim. Initially, we trust Tina and admire her protectiveness of Dana from the kids at school and on the violent council estate, but as we watch their friendship blossom we come to suspect that something is off. Ellis Directed by Nolan Cubero, USA (2016) A young father is forced to share custody of his daughters with his ex-wife, whose new boyfriend has a history of sexual assault. Sunday 12 February, 7.30pm Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo, 1, Dr. Mahmoud Azmi Street, Zamalek, Cairo 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
