Award‑Winning Egyptian Film "The Settlement" to Screen at Zawya Cinema

After a successful run on the international festival circuit, Mohamed Rashad’s acclaimed Egyptian workplace thriller "The Settlement" is set to screen on April 8th at 7:00 PM at Zawya Cinema, Cairo’s very own designated art-house cinema hotspot.

The screening is as part of the CineMAD Program — the pan-Arab film initiative by MAD Solutions bringing celebrated regional titles to local audiences.

The first screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the film’s director and cast, offering audiences a unique opportunity to engage directly with the creative team behind the film and gain deeper insight into its making and themes.

After that initial screening, "The Settlement" is expected to hold more screenings at Zawya over the next few days.

Inspired by a true story, "The Settlement" was the only Egyptian film selected for the Perspectives section at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film follows two brothers — 23-year-old Hossam and his 12-year-old sibling Maro — navigating life in a marginalized Alexandrian community. After their father’s death in a workplace accident, the factory responsible offers them jobs in lieu of accountability, setting the stage for a tense and emotional unraveling as the brothers begin to question the truth behind his death.

Following its Berlinale premiere, the film garnered widespread acclaim, winning the Audience Award at the sixth MiWorld Young Film Festival and continuing its successful festival journey with screenings at Italy’s African, Asian, and Latin American Film Festival (FESCAAL), Spain’s Afrikaldia Film Festival — where it also won the Audience Award — the Oran International Arab Film Festival, where it received the Silver Whir Award, and Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, where it was awarded the Bronze Star for Best Narrative Film.

Critically praised across the region, the film has been described as “an Egyptian feature that deserves to be celebrated,” with critics highlighting its emotional depth and striking visual storytelling.

Featuring rising talents Adham Shukr, Ziad Islam, Hajar Omar, Hanaday Abd El Khalek, Mohamed Abdel Hady, and Emad Ghoneim, "The Settlement" is shot by cinematographer Mahmoud Lotfi and edited by Heba Othman. The film is a co-production between Egypt, France, Germany, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, produced by Hala Lotfy of Hassala Films alongside international partners.

A joint effort between MAD World and MAD Distribution, CineMAD continues to expand access to award-winning Arab cinema across the region.