'Qadiyya Raqm 23' to screen in Zawya

CAIRO – 28 January 2018: The Lebanese film “Qadiyya Raqm 23” (The Insult) will screen in Zawya cinema starting from January 31.

The long awaited movie by most of Zawya’s audience is the first Lebanese film to be nominated for a Foreign Language Film Oscars.


The nomination is considered a huge achievement; not only for the Lebanese cinema but for the Arab Cinema as a whole.

"It was such good news when we got it, because this is the first time Lebanon arrives to the Oscars and you know you offer a little bit of hope," The movie director Ziad Doueiri previously told Reuters. "It's like winning a medal, it’s like going to the Olympics and your team for the first time wins the bronze medal or the silver medal."

“The Insult” revolves around Tony played by Lebanese actor Adel Karam and Palestinian refugee Yasser played by Yasser el-Basha who exchanged harsh words after Yasser tried to fix a drainpipe on Tony's balcony. The clash between them leads to violence, courtroom confrontations and national attention.

The media circus surrounding the case puts Lebanon in a critical social situation, pushing Toni and Yasser to reconsider their lives, prejudices and points of views.

“The Insult” also stars Rita Hayek, Camille Salameh, Diamand Bou Abboud, Talal Jurdi, among others. The movie is written by Ziad Doueiri and Joelle Touma and directed by Ziad Doueiri.
"The Insult" screened in Lebanon despite the controversy that surrounded the movie because Doueri made a previous film named "The Attack," in Israel.

The other nominees for Best Foreign Language Film in 2018 include "A Fantastic Woman" from Germany, "Loveless" from Russia, "On Body and Soul" from Hungary and "The Square" from Sweden.

Misr International Films (MIF) established Zawya in March 2014 as the first art-house cinema in Egypt, located in Downtown's Cinema Odeon.


Zawya is continuously displaying a wide selection of films from different parts of the world, including short films, documentaries, feature films and experimental work. Zawya has a program divided between theatrical releases and special events.


Zawya’s program relies mainly on local independent films, supporting and promoting young Egyptian and Arab filmmakers' work. Zaywa aims to eventually grow into a series of cinema screens spread out across the country through having organized screenings in multiple venues outside of Cairo.

Zawya also gives special attention to the concept of Education and Cinema, developing a strong educational program in collaboration with schools and universities in Egypt.