Modern Classic ‘Sahar El Layali’ Returns to Zawya Cinema on April 30th

Downtown Cairo’s Zawya Cinema is set to host a special screening of ‘Sahar El Layali’ (‘Sleepless Nights’) on Wednesday, April 30th, offering fans of Egyptian cinema the chance to revisit one of the most influential films of its generation.

First released in 2003, ‘Sahar El Layali’ is widely regarded as a modern classic for its unflinching portrayal of personal relationships, marital tensions, and societal expectations in contemporary Egypt. The film marked director Hani Khalifa’s debut feature and Tamer Habib’s first feature as a screenwriter. It follows four couples as they navigate love, betrayal, and disillusionment, painting a raw, emotionally complex portrait of urban middle-class life.

Featuring a celebrated ensemble cast—including Mona Zaki, Khaled Abol Naga, Sherif Mounir, Hanan Turk, Ola Ghanem, Gihan Fadel and Ahmed Helmy—the film was praised for its character-driven storytelling and naturalistic dialogue, a shift from the more melodramatic styles that had dominated Egyptian cinema in previous decades.

‘Sahar El Layali’ was a commercial and critical success, winning several awards, including Best Film at the Cairo International Film Festival and the Egyptian National Film Festival.