This is the first time an Arab film will be screened at the virtual event, which opens on March 16.
Film and music festival South by South West, also known as SXSW, will be screening Trapped (Egypt) as part of its virtual event, which is scheduled to begin on March 16. The film is being screened in the global narrative feature category of the festival. With the Egyptian film’s world premiere, this will be the first time an Arab movie is being showcased at the festival in Austin, Texas.
Trapped is directed by Manal Khaled and revolves around a group of women and their lives in a patriarchal society. It will be screened on March 18.
The festival will also premiere an international feature film called Bantú Mama, which tells the story of a European women of African descent in the Dominican Republic, who is on the run after having escaped from prison. The Spanish-language film is directed by Ivan Herrera and will be screened on March 16.
SXSW was founded in 1987 and is also an official qualifying festival for the Academy Awards Short Film competition. Winners of the Best Animated, Best Narrative and Best Documentary Short Film categories become eligible for the Oscars. Any British Short Film or British Short Animation that screens at SXSW also becomes eligible for a BAFTA nomination.
