Egypt / 2010 / 120mins / Drama, Comedy / Arabic

Microphone is a sparkling mash-up of shooting styles that tells the story of Khaled, who returns to his native Alexandria after a long stay in the United States and becomes enmeshed in a thriving underground arts scene after he chances upon a cooperative of young musicians. Completed prior to the remarkable social unrest that ultimately ousted President Mubarak, the film is nonetheless highly radical in the context of contemporary Arabic cinema and should not be missed by anyone with even a passing interest in North African affairs.

Ahmad Abdalla

An Egyptian award-winning director, editor and screenwriter, Ahmad Abdalla graduated from Faculty of Music Education and started working as a film editor since 2003. He wrote and directed the feature films; Heliopolis (2009), one of the first films of the Egyptian Independent film wave, Microphone (2010) and Rags and Tatters (2013). In 2014, Abdalla directed the psychological drama Décor that made its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. He won the Golden Tulip at the Istanbul International Film Festival, Tanit d'or at the Carthage Film Festival (JCC), Griot Best Film at the African Film Festival of Tarifa, Best Arabic Film at the Cairo International Film Festival, and the Golden Antigone at the 35th Cinemed. Learn More