Women Who Loved Cinema

A documentary exploring the groundbreaking contributions of six strong women to the Egyptian film industry in the early twentieth century. At a time when the country, despite liberal movements, was still deeply rooted in conservative traditions, these women broke social and cultural barriers to pursue their passion for cinema. The documentary combines rare film clips with interviews with prominent figures, including legendary director Youssef Chahine, and academics who discuss the impact of these female pioneers.

Their adventurous spirit and determination laid the foundation for the development of Egyptian cinema and contributed to the promotion of gender equality within the film industry. Born in Cairo in 1958, Marianne Khoury has a background in economics but was quickly drawn to the world of film. Working closely with her uncle, the renowned director Youssef Chahine, she has produced and directed films throughout her career that often deal with controversial themes such as identity and social exclusion.