The Red Sea International Film Festival is collaborating with Arab Radio and Television Network (ART), the Egyptian Ministry of Culture’s cinema holding company, and Media Production City in Egypt to restore these legendary classic films and screen them in their updated form as Part of the program of the festival.
The restoration project demonstrates the Red Sea International Film Festival’s commitment to the film industry as a whole and to its heritage in Arabic films.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the all-singing and dancing classic Watch out for Zouzou enchants audiences with both a love story and social commentary. Set in the 1970s, Zouzou is a model student, popular with her classmates and brilliant in the classroom. But in the evenings she dances and sings as part of her mother’s troupe at private parties.
She loves her job, but knows that her professors and classmates are prejudiced against her and will consider her scandalous when they find out about her after-hours job.
However, when a new drama teacher comes to her university, Zouzou is smitten. Here maybe finally someone who can understand, appreciate and support all aspects of your life.
The film is considered one of the best-selling Arabic films of all time; The actors who portray the young lovers have achieved legendary status and are considered exemplary romances.
The songs of Salah Jaheen and Kamal El Tawil are known by heart in the Arab world. Screening of this film at the festival is guaranteed to be a nostalgic hit and thought-provoking about the present.
In Gharam fil Karnak or Love in Karnak, a group of young dancers struggle to stay afloat financially.
The situation is complicated by the bumpy love affair between Amina, the lead dancer, and Salah, the leader of the troupe, in which a series of misunderstandings almost lead to the couple’s relationship breaking off.
The film has legendary status in the history of Arab filmmaking: its restoration and screening serves both as an inspiration for future filmmakers and as a testament to the long and established Arab film industry.
Antoine Khalife, Director of Arab Programs & Film Classics, commented: “We are proud to contribute to the restoration of two great masterpieces of Egyptian cinema, each of which had an unprecedented impact on audiences and society. Souad Hosny is at the heart of the entire Arab population and the great choreographer and dancer Mahmoud Reda made Egyptian dance shine around the world.”
Commenting on the film restorations, Red Sea International Film Festival CEO Mohammed Al Turki said: “This initiative demonstrates our commitment to preserving film heritage and supporting the creation and development of new films. Presenting some of the finest Arabic film heritage, these restored Arabic classics will delight viewers already familiar with the stories and breathe new life into the films by bringing them to new audiences.”
The restored films will be presented and shown as part of the film festival program. The second edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival will take place from December 1st to 10th, 2022. The Red Sea International Film Festival will restore and screen the classic Arabic films Watch Out for Zouzou and Gharam fil Karnak