Egyptian Cinema Eyes Its Next Act as Industry Veterans Call for Better Scripts, Wider Distribution
Industry veterans at the El Gouna Film Festival say Egyptian cinema needs stronger scripts and better routes to audiences to build on a recent rise in production. They argue that streaming has opened new opportunities, but filmmakers must meet higher audience expectations at home and make stories that can travel internationally.
Egypt produced 112 films in 1988, falling to 16 in 1998, before output recovered from 51 features in 2022 to 67 in 2023. Producer Mohamed Mashish called for more script development and collaboration between newer filmmakers and experienced professionals; director Hadi El Bagoury said audiences increasingly want original stories and varied genres. Producer and distributor Ziad Srouji argued that internationally appealing Arab films should be rooted in specific local worlds rather than imitate Western cinema.
In short
- Egyptian film output rose to 67 features in 2023.
- Veterans say better scripts are needed to sustain growth.
- Streaming and distinctive local stories could widen audiences.
Explained simply
Egypt has a long history of film-making, but the number of films produced fell sharply in the 1990s before rising again in recent years. El Gouna Film Festival, held on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, brings together filmmakers and industry professionals to discuss the business and craft of cinema.
The discussion involves producers, directors and distributors, including Mohamed Mashish, Hadi El Bagoury and Ziad Srouji. Their work spans developing films, directing them and helping them reach audiences, while streaming services have created new ways for films to be watched.
Scripts, audience tastes and distribution all affect which films get made and who sees them. The choices matter for Egyptian viewers and for filmmakers seeking audiences beyond Egypt, where stories grounded in local settings may also find wider appeal.