Egyptian cinema owes its beginnings to a group of intrepid Alexandrians who turned their fascination with a modern technology into a thriving industry.

Egyptian cinema owes a large measure of gratitude to the indomitable women who shaped the industry in its early days. They challenged convention and overcame tremendous societal pressure to establish the first production companies, build state-of-the-art studios and lay the foundation for the industry’s future successes.

A great star of Egyptian cinema, Mary Queeny took her first steps in the industry in 1929. As an actress, scriptwriter, film editor, etc., she gained experience in all aspects of filmmaking. Today, she is co-owner of Studio Galal with her son Nader and has produced some of the biggest productions in the Arab world.

With its world-class facilities and lavish productions, Studio Misr transformed the scattered individual efforts of Egyptian filmmakers into a thriving cinema industry and introduced us to many of the directors and stars of the future.

The years following the Second World War saw Egyptian cinema mature, paving the way for a new generation of filmmakers who were not afraid to experiment and innovate.

Following the 1952 revolution, a newly independent Egypt was rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with on the international stage, but its cinema industry was still only regional in scope. In 1953, celebrated director Fateen Abdel Wahab, representing the Syndicate of Egyptian Filmmakers, wrote a report identifying the obstacles holding back the Egyptian cinema industry.

The story of how the state supported the production of some of the most progressive and innovative films in the Egyptian film cannon.

An unusual location, a distinct perspective, an unanticipated topic and suddenly the cinema landscape starts to take on new dimensions and offer exciting possibilities for the future.

Egyptian films have presented us with many portrayals of the dancer, but what role did she play in our collective consciousness? And how did audiences perceive her?

A national project that mirrored the shifting political tides and left an erratic legacy both supported and hindered by state control.

A tour of Egyptian film archives—or lack thereof—given by the archivist of Cairo’s Cimatheque, an alternative film centre in Downtown Cairo dedicated to celebrating the diversity, beauty and power of film from Egypt and beyond.