“Withered Green” to be screened at EFCA, followed by director’s discussion

CAIRO – 7 January 2018: Egyptian Film Critics Association (EFCA) will screen the movie “Akhdar Yabes” (Withered Green) in the presence of the movie director Mohammed Hammad, Sunday, January 28.

The movie focuses on a woman (Iman) living in an oriental society, who tries to convince her uncles to meet her sister’s suiter in place of their deceased father. The protagonist is very traditional and strict. However, she receives medical news that cause her to rethink her life and question her beliefs.

According to MAD Solutions, the movie portrays Iman’s attempt to break many societal traditions and rules. At the beginning she attempted to convince any of her uncles to attend her younger sister's engagement as it is traditinal for a man to be there; however, her uncle’s behaviour, coupled with the medical news she receives, leads her to let go of all the withered traditions that she had once clung to so tightly. The movie aims to question traditions that we all hold on to without questoning or thinking about.

The movie stars Heba Ali (Noha) and Asmaa Fawzi both of whom are appearing in a cinematic movie for the very first time.

The film participated in 45 international film festivals including the Hamburg International Film Festival, Festival de Cannes, and Stockholm International Film Festival. It received several prizes at national and international festivals, such as “Best director of Dubai international Filma Festival”, “ Best actress of Aswan international film Festival for woman movies” and “Best Actress of the Alessandria Festival in Italy”, among others.

“Withered Green” is directed by Mohammed Hammad, Egyptian filmmaker known for “Akhdar Yabes” and “Al Geel El Rabea” (The fourth generation), beside his repertoire of several short movies. He produced and directed the short film PALE RED, which won several international awards. He was also a jury member of the Impact competition at the Stockholm International Film Festival 2016.

The internationally-awarded Egyptian film screened for the first time in Egypt at the Zawya cinema on October 25, 2017. It premiered at Locarno International Film Festival last year and was the first Egyptian film to be featured at the festival.