Egyptian filmmaker Maggie Morgan’s documentary Memoirs of M.A Draz is poised for exclusive screenings at the French Institutes in Cairo and Alexandria. The Cairo event is scheduled for Thursday, February 6, at 9 PM, followed by an engaging discussion with the film’s executive producer, Noha ElKholy. The Alexandria screening will occur the next day, Friday, February 7, at 7 PM.

This documentary provides a profound archival and cultural examination of Mohamed Abdallah Draz, a pivotal figure among Egypt’s Azharite scholars. Renowned for his progressive stance on tolerance and gender equality, Draz was advocating for these principles long before the feminist movement gained traction, solidifying his legacy in Islamic history.

Years after his death, his great-granddaughter, Noha ElKholy, discovers a wealth of personal letters, diaries, and photographs, illuminating his remarkable journey from the rural village of Mahallat Diyay to Alexandria and eventually to Paris, where he sought scholarly excellence.

Memoirs of M.A Draz premiered at the Aswan International Women’s Film Festival, where it garnered the Rashida Abdel Salam Award and the EU Prize for Best Euro-Mediterranean Film Addressing Women’s Issues. It has also been showcased at the Goethe Film Week in Cairo.

The documentary is directed by Maggie Morgan, with a script by Taghreed El Asfouri. Noha ElKholy serves as executive producer, while editing is handled by Amgad Shafik and Tamer Abdallah. The film features cinematography by Emad Nabil, a musical score by Khaled Al-Kammar, and narration by Sedki Sakhr. MAD Distribution is responsible for the film’s sales in the Arab world, while MAD World oversees international distribution.