After a successful festival run and multiple international awards, "The Stories" (Al-Qesas) is finally arriving in cinemas. The highly anticipated Egyptian film opens in Egypt on 17 June and across the Arab world on 18 June, attracting attention for its emotional love story, historical setting, and acclaimed cast. A Journey Through Time Set between the late 1960s and the 1980s, "The Stories" follows Ahmed, a young man from Cairo who dreams of becoming a concert pianist. His life takes an unexpected turn when he begins a pen-pal correspondence with a woman from Austria during the 1967 war. The film is the third feature from Egyptian writer-director Abu Bakr Shawky, whose debut film, Yomeddine, competed at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. He later directed the Saudi-set drama Hajjan, further cementing his reputation as one of the region&rsquo;s most distinctive filmmakers.
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IOl2qGuSXJs" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> A Love Story Beyond Borders Amir El-Masry stars as Ahmed, an aspiring pianist who develops a friendship with a female friend from Austria through a pen-pal programme. As their relationship deepens, it is met with suspicion from some members of his family. Encouraged by his new friend, Ahmed seeks to overcome his modest background and pursue his musical ambitions against the backdrop of Egypt&rsquo;s social and political transformation from the late 1960s to the 1980s. Filmed in Cairo and Vienna, the story explores themes of love, ambition and cultural connection. Cast The film stars British Egyptian actor Amir El-Masry alongside Nelly Karim, Valerie Pachner and Karim Kassem. It is written and directed by Abu Bakr Shawky. Creative Vision One of the film&rsquo;s key strengths is Shawky&rsquo;s ability to weave personal stories into wider historical events. Known for his emotionally driven storytelling, he combines archival footage, music and powerful performances to bring history to life. His approach allows audiences to experience major historical moments through the perspectives of ordinary people. Festival Success and Awards Ahead of its theatrical release, "The Stories" enjoyed a successful festival run. The film had its world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival before winning the Golden Tanit for Best Film at the Carthage Film Festival. The film also received recognition at the Arab Film Festival Rotterdam, where Nelly Karim shared the Best Actress award for her performance. In addition, "The Stories" won the Best Artistic Contribution Award for Cinematography in the Feature Film category at the festival&rsquo;s 15th edition. Blending romance, history, music and personal ambition, "The Stories" arrives in cinemas with strong critical acclaim and high expectations. As audiences across the region prepare to see the film on the big screen, many will be eager to discover why this moving story has already resonated with festival juries and film lovers alike.
Photo Credit: Amir El-Masry&rsquo;s official page

On Air Now

Non-Stop Music

You May like

Schedule

Non-Stop Music