Mona Zaki's "Cairo Mecca" Gets New Title, Poster, Release Date

The first poster for Egyptian actress Mona Zaki's film "Cairo Mecca" has been unveiled – along with its new title. 

The cast also stars Shereen Reda, Mohamed Mamdouh, Khaled El-Sawy, Mohamed Farag, and more.

The film is scripted by Mohamed Ragaa and directed by Hani Khalifa.

"Flight 404" was penned many years ago, but the lack of enthusiasm of a production company to present it properly led to its suspension for many years.

The project is the first Egyptian film to be shot in Saudi Arabia. It follows the protagonist's plan to travel to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage with her father, but a week before traveling, a surprise changes the course of her life.

She faces a dilemma of whether to complete the journey with good intentions or take a different approach.

"Flight 404" is rated 18+ and revolves around Ghada, who days before she travels to Mecca to perform Hajj is hit with an emergency that requires a large amount of money.

She is forced to reconnect with acquaintances with a tainted past with whom she had severed ties. Will things go peacefully, the issue will be solved, and be able to perform the Hajj, or does returning to the past contaminate her again?

Zaki, born on November 18, 1976, started by acting career at the age of 16 when Egyptian actor-director Mohamed Sobhi was searching for new faces.

She applied in the hopes of getting a chance to meet Sobhi and was cast by him for her first acting role in his play “Bel Araby El Faseeh”.

Zaki later co-starred in several hit TV series such as “El A’elah”, “Khalti Safiya wel Deir”, “Nisf Rabi’ El Akhar”, “Ahalina”, “Ded El Tayyar”, and “El Daw’ El Sharid”.

She also co-starred in several plays, among which were “Le’b Eyal”, “Ya Messafer Wahdak”, “Afrouto”, and “Keda OK”.

In 2001, Zaki received an award from Gihan El Sadat, the wife of former president Anwar El Sadat, for portraying her in the masterpiece film “Ayam El Sadat” (Days of El Sadat).

She was awarded the Faten Hamama Prize for Excellency at the opening ceremony of the 42nd Cairo International Film Festival in 2020.