EGYPT, LOVE SONG

Iris Zaki

Souad Zaki was a famous Jewish Arabic singer in 1940s Egypt. She married to a renowned Muslim musician – Mohamed Elakkad, with whom she had a son. After Mohammed abandoned her with their child, Souad fled to Israel, where she was consigned to live a poor life. Souad’s granddaughter, Iris Zaki, brings her tempestuous story to life in a sweeping project that crosses cultures, religions and cinematic form – marrying scripted period scenes and rare archival materials with an intimate father-daughter documentary journey.

Directors: Iris Zaki

Script: Iris Zaki

Producers: Ronen Machlis-Balzam, Iris Zaki, Hila Guy, Asaf Galay, Peter Hutchison, Line Producer: Adi Sela

Production company: Metaphor Ltd.

Editing: Nili Feller

Filming: Avner Shahaf

Actors : Nur Fibak, Rivka Bacher

Soundtrack: Shahaf Wagshall

75 min | Israel | 2022 | Hebrew, Arabic, English

Produced by
  • Kan – Israeli Public Broadcasting Corp |
  • Gesher Multicultural Film Fund
Festivals and awards
Jerusalem Film Festival, Israel, 2022 Diamond Competition for Israeli Documentary Films
Terni Film Festival, Italy, 2023 Best Documentary Award, Best Script Award