As one of Egypt’s most precious gems, Om Kalthoum has always been at the top of the list of Egyptians endowment musicians. With her rich poising voice and classiness, her songs still have a unique place in the history of music. The Venice Film Festival announced the participation of “El-Bahth Aan Om Kalthoum” (Looking for Om Kalthoum) in its 74th edition at the Venice Day programme.
The film stars young superstar Yasmine Raees, and directed by Shirin Neshat, who previously won the Silver Lion Award at the festival in 2009. It was shot in Morocco and Austria, and it is a co-production between German, Austrian, Italian, and Moroccan companies.
The film tells the story of prominent singer Om Kalthoum, and how she was able to break society’s boundaries and restrictions, as well as her enriching participation in the political issues taking place during this new era. Om Kalthoum was known for hosting concerts and donating her fee as well as the concerts’ profits to support the Egyptian army in the war against Israel.
Raees celebrated the news by publishing the main poster of the film, which shows her appearing as Om Kalthoum with a classical golden gown with her gazes anticipatingly looking from behind a theatre’s red curtains.
This is not Yamine’s first films to participate at international film festivals, her previous participation at late Mohammed Khan’s masterpiece, “Fataat El Masnaa”, “The Factory Girl”, also gained international accreditation.
She won 6 awards for her role including: the Best Actress Award at the Dubai International Film Festival, Best Actress Award at Malmo Arab Film Festival in Sweden, Best Actress Award at the 18th Egyptian National Film Festival, Best Actress Award at the 41st Egyptian Film Association Festival, Best Actress at Silk Road Film Festival in Dublin, Ireland, and, most recently, a special mention from the jury of Feature Film.
