‘El-Deif’ to screen at Manarat Film Festival on July 3

CAIRO – 2 July 2019: Veteran writer Ibrahim Essa's film “El-Deif” (The guest) will screen at Manarat Film Festival for Mediterranean Cinema in Tunisia on July 3.

“El-Deif” previously participated in Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival and Arab Film Festival, Rotterdam.


“Dr. Yahya Tijani, portrayed in the film by Khaled el-Sawy, is facing charges of contempt of religions and is expected to be handed a one year sentence. What is the story behind this man?” Eissa tweeted on his official twitter account upon the release of the film’s promo in December 2018.

The film is the second cinematic experience for the veteran writer after the great success he achieved in his previous controversial film “Mawlana” (The Sheikh).

“El-Deif” (The guest) is starring Khaled el-Sawi, Sherine Reda, Ahmed Malek and Jamila Awad and is directed by Hadi el-Bagouri.

The film revolves around a man who visits a family for dinner as a guest, and then strange incidents follow.

Yahia Tijani is the writer and thinker the film revolves around. Tijani has opinions that make him face the charge of contempt of religions. Perhaps the most prominent among his opinions is that hijab is not obligatory.

Tijani has a small family consisting of his wife Mimi and his daughter Farida, who Osama proposes to marry. Osama is "the guest" that changes the course of events in the film.

“El-Deif” was granted the Public Award in Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia early December 2018, as it was competing in the official contest of the festival representing the African continent.

Eissa, a controversial writer and thinker, presents a film that explores his ideas and tackles thorny issues.