Amr Waked ramps up Zad slate

Amr Waked’s Cairo-based production company Zad is in talks with a leading Egyptian distributor to release the company’s first feature production Winter Of Discontent [pictured], which premiered last week in Venice Orizzonti.

“We are very keen on launching the film on a commercial platform,” Waked said. If this distributor doesn’t offer enough screens, Zad will release on its own distribution arm.

Swipe Films has come on board to sell Ibraham El Partout’s drama internationally.

Waked, who runs Zadwith Salah Al Hanafy, also confirmed plans for the company to work on another film with El Partout, crime thriller The Cat.

Also being developed are two projects from Ahmed El Hawary: an adaptation of classic novel Children Of Gabalawi, and a documentary portrait of Egyptian singer and composer Saied Darwish.

Another new project is Ossama Fawzy’s next film Eclipse, a drama written by Moustafa Zekri.

Also, Zad is still looking for French co-producers for The Exile by Atef Heteta. Waked is hoping to put Ahmed Maher’s €3.3m ($4.1m) In Which Land You Die into production next summer, and is seeking an Italian co-producer. That story follows an an illegal Egyptian immigrant in Italy (to be played by Waked) who has to take his mother’s body back to Egypt for her burial.

The company is also completing its 10-episode TV series Sing Freedom, about contemporary Arab bands. American outfit TPI (Teleproductions International) will be handling the distribution.

“We are the new blood. We identify the new talent in the region and we support them,” Waked declared of Zad’s role fostering the work of the best young directors in Egypt. “We bet on directors and their visions.”