An Evening of Egyptian Films with Director Hala Galal

Reception to follow at the Institute for Research on Women and Gender (754 Schermerhorn Extension)

Free and open to the public

Please join Egyptian director Hala Galal for a screening of her documentary “Women's Chit Chat,” about generations of feminist women in Egypt. Galal is one of the key figures in the founding of the independent production company SEMAT, which has been responsible for making some of the most interesting short and documentary films coming out of Egypt in recent years, as well as training young filmmakers and producing a film magazine. She is also currently working together with Syrian director Omar Amiralay on starting a new film school that will be traveling throughout the region.

Along with "Women's Chit Chat," two other films, both by woman directors and produced through SEMAT, will be shown at this special evening of Egyptian films. These are a short film called “The Elevator” and a short documentary called “Do You Know Why” about a teenager trying to break into the world of film acting.

This special event takes place in the context of ArteEast's first CinemaEast film festival, which will take place at the Quad Cinema from November 4 to 10. In addition to a screening a selection of films from throughout the region, ArteEast will offer a number of workshops with visiting filmmakers and critics from the region, dealing with a range of issues such as cinema of trauma and the independent documentary.

Sponsored by ArteEast, the Middle East Institute of Columbia University, the Columbia Institute for Research on Women and Gender, the Columbia Department of Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures, and Turath.