SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    Egypt's PM meets Tokyo governor, witnesses signing of education agreements    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Egypt's Sisi, France's Macron discuss Gaza ceasefire efforts in phone call    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Slow summer season to see few major movies
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 13 - 05 - 2010

The limited number of Egyptian films to hit theaters this summer has been anticipated since last year. The season, which usually sees the highest number of new releases, is still suffering from the global economic crisis. And that the fasting month of Ramadan will cut the season short this year is sure to make Egyptian producers think twice about releasing any new films at all this year.
The Egyptian Chamber of Cinema Industries announced that production dropped in 2009 to only 12 films, down from 60 in 2007, and 57 in 2008. Only a small number of these films will be screening this summer as producers are not willing to take their chances on uncertain projects that might put them out of business.
What's more, Ramadan will begin on August 11 this year, and movie-goers prefer to stay at home on Ramadan evenings to watch television dramas. This includes the highly-coveted younger demographic, which will also be following the month-long World Cup, which will kick off in South Africa on June 11.
Shereen Samir, senior editor at Good News 4 Media, says it will be a short season.
"Only the actors who are well known and successful are releasing films this season," she says, although she believes the summer will regain its status in subsequent years. "It's the only season suitable for releasing big blockbusters, when young people aren't busy with school and families and are looking for entertainment."
The following is a list of major films expected to hit theaters this summer:
El-Dealer ('The Dealer'): Starring Ahmed el-Saqa in his favorite genre: crime, action and drama. The story follows a young man who travels abroad looking for new opportunities in life and finds himself entangled in the affairs of a drug-dealing mafia before becoming one of their most trusted dealers. Khaled el-Nabawi co-stars as a police officer pursuing el-Saqa and willing to break the law to capture him. The movie is due to hit theaters in mid-May.
Assal Esswd ('Molasses'): Ahmed Helmy is back with yet another comedy, playing an American-born Egyptian who decides to visit his mother country. He finds that all doors are opened wide the minute he shows his US passport. When he loses the precious document, however, he is faced with multiple problems, which serve as an eye-opener for the young man. The film, co-starring Emmy Samir Ghanim, is expected to be released on 2 June.
La Tarago' Wa La Estislam ('No Retreat, No Surrender'): Ahmed Mekki has managed to prove himself a box-office force in the last couple of years, and this year he's back with new "inspiration" from Hollywood. Like last year, when he copy-catted Brendan Fraser's Bedazzled (2000) with his film Teer Enta, the poster of his new release was reportedly inspired by the poster of Robert Downey Jr's Tropic Thunder (2008). Will his new film be an Egyptianized version of the American hit? No trailer has been released yet, and the film's release date is still to be announced.
Nour Eini ('Light of my Eyes'): El-Sobkey productions focus this year on Tamer Hosni's latest project, Nour Eini. Hosni held the box-office top spot last year with his sequel to Omar we Salma ('Omar and Salma') and Hosni-mania might well continue this summer. His latest film, co-starring Menna Shalabi, follows Tamer Hosni's character, Nour, as he falls for a blind girl who he later discovers to be his best-friend's love interest as well. The movie should hit theaters on 19 May.
Ellimby 8 Giga: After trying his luck with multiple new abstract characters, Mohamed Sa'd goes back to his roots with his stuttering persona Ellimby. Ellimby works as a lawyer and Sa'd's character this time falls in love with a schoolteacher (Mai Ezz Eddin), who he manages to marry against all odds. The black comedy follows their journey as they try to make ends meet with the little money they have. The film is slated to be released in June.


Clic here to read the story from its source.