Can indie films spark social dialogue in rural Egypt?

CAIRO — In a step aimed to promote independent cinema in Upper Egypt, members of the Cinema Everywhere Initiative have screened about 40 films in popular cafes, youth centers, neighborhoods and schools across various villages of Upper Egypt, using only display screens connected to laptop computers. This part of Egypt is known for suffering from underdevelopment and — unlike Egypt’s northern cities — there is a total lack of theaters. Citizens living in Upper Egypt miss out on many commercial and independent films.

Despite the lofty goals, however, it seems that the initiative's ability to bring about change and consecrate independent art culture is still limited due to lack of funding and government support.