Egyptian Film "El Shoq" Competing at Sixth Arab Film Festival in Oran, Algeria

"El Shoq" (Lust) was screened at the sixth Arab Film Festival of Oran (FOFA) in Algeria. "El Shoq," from director Khaled El Hagar, will be taking part in the official competition for feature films.

Made in 2010, the film revolves around a poor family living in Alexandria. When the mother, Fatima, realizes the depth of their poverty, she sends her youngest son out to wash dishes every week, earning them the 300 LE that keeps the family afloat. She travels to Cairo to take up begging far from her hometown. After making enough money, she returns home to find her young son dead. She decides that the only way to protect her two daughters, Shoq and Ewatef, from poverty is to return to Cairo and continue begging in order to keep them from going down the wrong path.

"El Shoq" was written by Sayed Ragab, and stars Sawsan Bader, Ruby, Ahmed Azmy, Mohamed Ramadan and Salwa Mohamed Ali.

The film has already been warmly received in the festival circuit. At the 34th Cairo International Film Festival last year, the film won the Gold Pyramid and actress Sawsan Bader won best actress for her performance.