Cairo, Egypt. 20 million people. 23,600 miles of road. Two million cars. Taxis, buses, donkey carts, and swarms of people, all jockeying to move through the obstacle course that is their daily lives. Sitting at a cultural intersection, Cairo is a city unlike any other, where different faiths, races, and social classes all share a few clogged arteries of tarmac. Cairo traffic is a chaotic experience where rules are constantly challenged: an elaborate dance of leading and following, flow and resistance, and impeccable, almost miraculous timing.
Set to the driving rhythms of Mohamed Ghorab, Ahmed Azzam, and Sabrine El Hossamy, Cairo Drive is a documentary that explores the life of one of the world™s most populated cities from its streets. Shot in 2009-2012 (before
and during the Egyptian revolution, and ending with the most recent presidential elections), the film explores the country's collective identity, inherent struggles, and the sentiments that lead through the historic changes taking place in Egypt today.
For years, Egypt has told two story lines: the official propaganda,
and the reality on the streets. Nowhere is this clearer than on the roadways. The times have changed, the traffic has not. For his third documentary, Egyptian/American filmmaker Sherief Elkatsha rides through the congested streets alongside a diverse cast of characters from taxi drivers to ambulances,from traffic cops to private citizens capturing the unspoken codes of conduct, frustrations, humor, fatalism, and life-or-death decisions of driving in a city where the only rule is: there are no rules.
Official Selection:
Hong Kong International Film Festival, True/False Film Festival, Portland International Film Festival
Wisconsin Film Festival, DC Film Festival, Ismailaia Film Festival, Open City Docs Festival
Films Fra Sor Festival: Oslo, MedFilm Fest - Rome, Durban- Intl Film Festival
Festival Arabe - Amsterdam, IDSFFK - International Documentary & Short Film Festival of Kerala)
Ambulante Los Angeles, Milwaukee Film Festival, The Barbican - City Series - London, Kohlma Documentary Film Festival
DOC NYC, CPH:DOX, BBC Arabic Film Festival
Abu Dhabi Film Festival - Winner Best Film from the Arab World - Documentary Competition
Grand Jury Prize - Viewfinders Competition DOCNYC
Special Mention - Open City Docs
•••
filmed, directed, and produced by: Sherief Elkatsha
editors: Sherief Elkatsha / Pierre Haberer
contributing editor: Tarek Gamal El Din
story consultant: Ibrahim El Batout
co- producers: Ayman Samir Ezzat • Pierre Haberer • Laila Muhareb • Samer Zureikat
poster: Habi Girgis
music: Hybrid Records : Mohamed Ghorab & Ahmed Azzam
Sabrine El Hossamy
Special thanks: Mona Eldaief, Meredith Kaufman, Ryan Khavari, Leanne French