Islam Kamal

In the fading grandeur of downtown Cairo, Khalid, a 35-year-old filmmaker is struggling to make a film that captures the pulse of his city at a moment when all around him dreams as much as buildings are disintegrating. With the help of his friends who send him footage from their lives in Beirut, Baghdad and Berlin, he finds the strength to keep going through the difficulty and beauty of living IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE CITY.

Jannah, the little daughter of a belly dancer, roams excised from her mother’s body, in search for a medical lab.

Egyptian short movie

A policeman, a belly dancer, a white rabbit, a secret agent, a man hopelessly in love: the cast of characters in Islam Kamal’s hyperactive comedy EXPIRED is sourced directly from the tropes of Egypt’s film history of the last thirty years. The film places its protagonists in stereotypical situations, ranging from courting to interrogations, using satire and humor as a vehicle for socio-political commentary. A manifesto of sorts from the young, independent film scene in Egypt.

The film was produced by the Alexandria Jesuit Film School’s Short Filmmaking Grant. The film addresses the topic of suicide and young people suffering from deep psychological issues. It tells the story of a young man, Emad, who suffers from speech problems while recording a piece of music. A girl leaves him in the studio while she attempts suicide.