The Elevator (al-Sansir) by Hadeel Nazmi. Egypt, 2005, 15 min, DVD US première

A short voyeuristic thriller set in a trapped elevator and conducted via suggestive cell phone calls, The Elevator negotiates the tensions of the ambiguous, gray area between public and private spaces, repulsion and desire, fear and longing, and seclusion and surveillance. In Arabic with English subtitles.


Wed, Nov 9, 7:00, 612 Schermerhorn Hall, Columbia University. Followed by a reception at the Institute for Research on Women and Gender. Q & A with Hala Galal, moderated by Professor Noha Radwan, MEALAC, Columbia University

Cast and Crew:

Cast: Laila Samy
Writer: Hadeel Nazmi
Producer: Samy Hossam
Cinematographer: Kaiser
Editor: Kaiser
Music: Ayman Nouby, Mahmoud Refaat (selections)

Filmmaker Bio:

Born in 1977, Alexandria, Egypt, Hadel Nazmy is a member of the painting department and the faculty of fine arts at Alexandria University where she lives and works.

Festivals / Awards:

  • Fifth Arab Film Festival Rotterdam in Short Narrative Competition, 2005
  • Eleventh Egyptian national Festival for Short Narrative Films, 2005
  • El Sakia Second Festival for Short Narrative Films, 2005
  • Second Fayoum International Youth Film Festival., 2005

Print Source:

SEMAT for Production & Distribution
8 Ali Ismael Street, Villa Karam (Ground Floor), Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Phone/Fax: (20 2) 761 49 05
Email: semat@sematcairo.com
website: www.sematcairo.com