release date July 18 2024
Memoirs of M.A Draz Zawya run extended for third week
After a rousing, full-house premiere at Zawya Cinema earlier in July, a Q&A with the director, and several extended screenings met with immediate, overwhelmingly positive reactions, Maggie Morgan’s MEMOIRS OF M.A DRAZ has just received another round of extended screenings at Cairo’s favorite indie cinema for the third week in a row.
The film’s screening details are as follows:
Friday, July 19th at 9:30 pm; Sunday, July 21st at 7 pm; and Tuesday, July 23rd at 2 pm.
MEMOIRS OF M.A DRAZ was hailed as “one of the best films of the year in terms of idea, structure, and topic” by esteemed Egyptian film critic Mahmoud Abd El Shakour, who also commended the film's “ability to touch both the mind and the soul” and invited others to see it, expressing his hope to see it on television as well.
Recently earning two prestigious awards at the 2024 Aswan International Women Film Festival, the documentary chronicles the extraordinary life of Azharite scholar Mohamed Abdallah Draz. Crafted by Morgan and co-writer Taghreed El-Asfoury, the film delves into Draz's life through a treasure trove of letters, diaries, and photographs discovered by his great-granddaughter, Noha ElKholy.
From his humble beginnings in Mahallat Diyay to his scholarly pursuits in Paris, the film paints a vivid portrait of a man far ahead of his time, advocating for equal opportunities for his daughters and sons long before the rise of feminism in the Middle East.
With its world premiere at the Aswan International Women Film Festival earning the Rasheeda Abdelsalam Special Jury Award and the Euro-Mediterranean Award, the film has solidified its status as a cinematic masterpiece.
MEMOIRS OF M.A DRAZ has garnered critical acclaim for its hauntingly beautiful narration by Sedky Sakr and the evocative musical score by Khaled Al Kammar, elevating the documentary to an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Directed by Maggie Morgan and co-written alongside Taghreed El-Asfoury, the film was produced by Noha ElKhouly, 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 reflects on the journey of crafting the film, stating, “One day, my friend Noha ElKhouly invited me over. As we sat at her kitchen table, she shared old family photos and letters exchanged between Sheikh Draz and his daughters,” adding that “these elements, along with Noha’s notes and a book gifted by a woman named Samia chronicling her grandfather’s life, drew me into a compelling narrative that begged to be shared. Sheikh Draz's story represents a facet of Egypt unfamiliar to me, offering a glimpse into our heritage and a potential guide for the future.”
This is why prominent journalist and academic Ibrahim Issa emphasizes that Dr. Draz's legacy extends beyond his scientific contributions.
Maggie Morgan — an Egyptian filmmaker, festival programmer, and faculty member at the American University in Cairo — has a distinguished career in directing feature films and shorts. Her previous works have garnered accolades at various international film festivals, cementing her reputation as a visionary storyteller.
Her filmography includes: FROM WITHIN THEIR STORIES (2009), ASHAM (2013), and FROM MEIR TO MEIR (2021), 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.
She is currently the director of the Short Film Competition at the Cairo International Film Festival.
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