The effects of the virus spread are unprecedented on the seventh art

Corona deals a painful blow to Egyptian cinema

Last Eid al-Adha, only a comic entitled “The Washer” was shown, and many of the works were postponed.

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The new Corona virus has dealt a painful blow to Egyptian cinema, which has been in decline for decades after its long domination of the seventh art sector in the Arab world.

From Algeria to Baghdad through Damascus, the influence of Egyptian cinema has been tangible and felt in various Arab countries for generations.

During the golden age of Egyptian cinema, which lasted until the mid-1960s, stars who gained international fame appeared, such as Omar Sharif, Youssef Shaheen and Jamil Ratib.

However, the decline of Egyptian cinema began with the state ceasing to finance film production in the 1970s and the spread of lower quality commercial films.

According to film industry experts, the health crisis caused by the emerging corona virus has had unprecedented effects on the Egyptian seventh art.

Actor and producer Sherif Ramzy confirmed that "the Egyptian film industry has recorded huge losses this year."

Empty studios

The cinemas were closed last March before working again at the beginning of the summer, but the government imposed an occupancy rate of no more than 25% of the capacity for each hall.

Last Eid al-Adha, only one movie was shown, a comic work entitled “The Washer”, while six or seven new films were shown during the holiday season under normal circumstances.

Tests conducted for many Egyptian movie actors confirmed that they were infected with the virus, after their participation, last April, in filming the series that were shown in the month of Ramadan.

The Egyptian actress, Rajaa Al-Jeddawi (81 years), died in July as a result of being infected with the virus after participating in filming a series during this period.

Film studios are now empty.

According to the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, at least half a million people work in the film industry, 40% of whom work permanently.

"We paid the workers salaries for several months and we have no income," said Ramzi, who owns a film production company.

The movie industry generated nearly $ 70 million in revenue from 33 films last year.

"This year we expect a lot less revenue," said producer Mohamed Hefzy.

He continued, "We will have to wait until next year in order to return to normal, and this year things may remain as they are now."

Digital platforms

The closure prompted movie fans all over the world to resort to digital platforms, and the Egyptian Watch8 platform, which was launched last year, joined the fierce competition in this field.

Mustafa Bakhit, one of the platform's officials, explained that "subscriptions increased by more than 30% last March."

"During the month of Ramadan, the rate of increase was 89%," he added, because this platform offered new TV series, without the long advertising paragraphs that TV channels broadcast during the episodes.

Producer Mohamed Hefzy believes that the move to digital platforms is a "natural development that may have been accelerated somewhat by the Covid-19 pandemic."

He stressed that it "cannot replace cinemas."

He stressed that "the cinema experience remains unique and important and should be preserved."

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