The film Kiss Me Not (Balash Tebosni) takes part in the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) in China (June 16-25) with the attendance of director Ahmed Amer and its star Mohamed Mahran. Set to screen five times during the festival, Kiss Me Not is nominated for the three awards: Audience Choice Award, Media Choice Award for Film and Media Choice Award for Filmmaker as part of The Belt and Road Film Week programme that was recently launched by the festival.

Kiss Me Not made its world premiere at the 14th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) within the Arabian Nights programme. The film received a Special Mention at the 1st Jounieh International Film Festival, and screened at the Tripoli Film Festival and Miami Film Festival. Kiss Me Not was released at Metropolis Cinema in Lebanon.

Written and directed by Ahmed Amer, Kiss Me Not follows a young and ambitious Egyptian director who faces issues while shooting a kissing scene in his new film with the leading actress who decides to pursue a more religious path.

Kiss Me Not stars Yasmin Raeis, Mohamed Mahran, Salwa Mohamed Ali and Aida Riad with guest stars actress Sawsan Badr, late director Mohamed Khan and director Khairy Beshara. The film is co-produced by Middlewest Films, WIKA for Film Production and Distribution and MAD Solutions, and distributed by MAD Distribution.

Ahmed Amer started his filmmaking career as an assistant editor in the US working on documentaries and TV content as well as having made a few appearances as an actor in a number of films in New York. Amer also worked as an Arabic script consultant for the film Looking for Umm Kulthum by director Shirin Nashat. His writing credits include the award-winning films Winter of Discontent (2012) by director Ibrahim El Batout, who co-wrote the film with Amer, and Ali, the Goat and Ibrahim (2016) by Sherif El Bendary. Kiss Me Not is his first feature film after many years as a professional screenwriter.

Screening Times of Kiss Me Not at the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) (GMT +8):

Saturday, June 16, 03:45 PM at ShangYing Cinema, Hall 5
Sunday, June 17, 06:30 PM at Shanghai ifc Mall, Palace Cinema, Hall 1
Monday, June 18, 03:45 PM at Westa Cinema, Hall 5
Thursday, June 21, 06:30 PM at The Grand Theatre, Hall 3
Friday, June 22, 06:30 PM at Aurora International Cinema, Hall 4