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Egyptian documentary MEMOIRS OF M.A. DRAZ to screen at Goethe Film Week
12 September 2024
Following its successful release at Cairo’s Zawya cinema for three consecutive weeks, the highly acclaimed Egyptian documentary MEMOIRS OF M.A. DRAZ by Maggie Morgan will be screened during the Goethe Film Week (September 17th to the 23rd) at the Goethe Institute in Alexandria and Cairo.
The screenings are scheduled for 5 pm on Friday, September 20th at the Goethe Institute in Alexandria and 7 pm on Saturday, September 21st at its Cairo branch, with both events featuring a Q&A session with director Maggie Morgan, producer Noha El-Khouly, and co-writer Taghreed El-Asfoury, allowing audiences to engage with the creative team behind this powerful film.
MEMOIRS OF M.A. DRAZ is a poignant documentary that delves into the extraordinary life of Azharite scholar Mohamed Abdallah Draz. After decades of his passing, his great-granddaughter uncovers a treasure trove of letters, diaries, and photographs that piece together the life of a man she had only known through childhood stories.
The film explores themes of education, equality, and the importance of preserving cultural heritage, showcasing Draz’s progressive views on gender equality long before the rise of feminism in the Middle East while also taking viewers on a journey from Draz’s humble beginnings in Mahallet Diyay to his scholarly pursuits in Paris, highlighting his commitment to providing equal opportunities for both his daughters and sons.
Days after the release of the film at Cairo’s favorite indie cinema, Zaywa Cinema, the Egyptian documentary MEMOIRS OF M.A. DRAZ soon became the talk of the town, with critics highly praising it, including esteemed Egyptian film critic Mahmoud Abd El Shakour, who hailed it as “one of the best films of the year in terms of idea, structure, and topic.”
Taif El-Moslmany of What Women Want Magazine was also quick to react to the film’s poignant storytelling, writing, “MEMOIRS OF M.A. DRAZ unfolds a mesmerizing narrative that transcends time and place. The film paints a vivid portrait of a man ahead of his time.”
MEMOIRS OF M.A. DRAZ world premiered at the eighth Aswan International Women Film Festival, where it won the Rasheeda Abdelsalam Special Jury Award and the Euro-Mediterranean Award.
Elevating the documentary to an unforgettable cinematic experience, the film has garnered critical acclaim for its hauntingly beautiful narration by actor Sedky Sakr and the evocative musical score by Khaled Al Kammar.
Directed by Maggie Morgan and co-written alongside Taghreed El-Asfoury, MEMOIRS OF M.A DRAZ was produced by Noha El-Khouly; lensed by Amgad Reyad, Olivier Dury, Emad Nabil, and Akram Mamdouh; and edited by Amgad Shafik and Tamer Abdullah. MAD Distribution is responsible for the film’s distribution and sales in the Arab-speaking world, while MAD World handles its worldwide sales.
Maggie Morgan is an Egyptian filmmaker, festival programmer, and faculty member at the American University in Cairo.
She has directed both feature films and shorts, including FROM WITHIN THEIR STORIES, ASHAM, and FROM MEIR TO MEIR, the latter of which received the prize for Best Egyptian Film at the Aswan International Film Festival Special Jury Prize at the National Film Festival and the Ahmed Bakry Prize at the Al-Quds International Film Festival.
The Goethe Film Week, running from September 17th to the 23rd, offers residents a diverse lineup of recently released German and Arabic films, along with access to workshops, panel discussions, and cultural events.
The screenings are scheduled for 5 pm on Friday, September 20th at the Goethe Institute in Alexandria and 7 pm on Saturday, September 21st at its Cairo branch, with both events featuring a Q&A session with director Maggie Morgan, producer Noha El-Khouly, and co-writer Taghreed El-Asfoury, allowing audiences to engage with the creative team behind this powerful film.
MEMOIRS OF M.A. DRAZ is a poignant documentary that delves into the extraordinary life of Azharite scholar Mohamed Abdallah Draz. After decades of his passing, his great-granddaughter uncovers a treasure trove of letters, diaries, and photographs that piece together the life of a man she had only known through childhood stories.
The film explores themes of education, equality, and the importance of preserving cultural heritage, showcasing Draz’s progressive views on gender equality long before the rise of feminism in the Middle East while also taking viewers on a journey from Draz’s humble beginnings in Mahallet Diyay to his scholarly pursuits in Paris, highlighting his commitment to providing equal opportunities for both his daughters and sons.
Days after the release of the film at Cairo’s favorite indie cinema, Zaywa Cinema, the Egyptian documentary MEMOIRS OF M.A. DRAZ soon became the talk of the town, with critics highly praising it, including esteemed Egyptian film critic Mahmoud Abd El Shakour, who hailed it as “one of the best films of the year in terms of idea, structure, and topic.”
Taif El-Moslmany of What Women Want Magazine was also quick to react to the film’s poignant storytelling, writing, “MEMOIRS OF M.A. DRAZ unfolds a mesmerizing narrative that transcends time and place. The film paints a vivid portrait of a man ahead of his time.”
MEMOIRS OF M.A. DRAZ world premiered at the eighth Aswan International Women Film Festival, where it won the Rasheeda Abdelsalam Special Jury Award and the Euro-Mediterranean Award.
Elevating the documentary to an unforgettable cinematic experience, the film has garnered critical acclaim for its hauntingly beautiful narration by actor Sedky Sakr and the evocative musical score by Khaled Al Kammar.
Directed by Maggie Morgan and co-written alongside Taghreed El-Asfoury, MEMOIRS OF M.A DRAZ was produced by Noha El-Khouly; lensed by Amgad Reyad, Olivier Dury, Emad Nabil, and Akram Mamdouh; and edited by Amgad Shafik and Tamer Abdullah. MAD Distribution is responsible for the film’s distribution and sales in the Arab-speaking world, while MAD World handles its worldwide sales.
Maggie Morgan is an Egyptian filmmaker, festival programmer, and faculty member at the American University in Cairo.
She has directed both feature films and shorts, including FROM WITHIN THEIR STORIES, ASHAM, and FROM MEIR TO MEIR, the latter of which received the prize for Best Egyptian Film at the Aswan International Film Festival Special Jury Prize at the National Film Festival and the Ahmed Bakry Prize at the Al-Quds International Film Festival.
The Goethe Film Week, running from September 17th to the 23rd, offers residents a diverse lineup of recently released German and Arabic films, along with access to workshops, panel discussions, and cultural events.
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