During the 8th Aswan International Women’s Film Festival, from April 20th to 25th, there will be a tribute to Egyptian director Hala Khalil.
Through her films Ms. Khalil has given us stories showing the struggles of Egyptian women for recognition, along with other social issues affecting the country. A good example is her 2015 feature Nawara, about a young woman working for a rich family in the middle of the 2011 revolution.
Having graduated in directing from the Cairo Film School, Hala Khalil made a short film, The Kite, in 1997. In 2004 she released her first feature-length fiction film The Best of Times (Ahla el-Awqat) which shows Cairo society through the eyes of the central female character, Salma.
The Festival organizers have noted Ms. Khalil’s recent absence from the film scene, citing the difficulties she has encountered developing new films. Problems which, according to the organizers, reflect the current state of the Egyptian film industry.
Sources: Broadcast Pro, Scene Now, AIWFF
