Elham Shahin and Yousra discuss female roles at El Gouna Film Festival

During the ninth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival, Egyptian actresses Elham Shahin and Yousra participated in a seminar titled ‘Female Heroism in the Balance of the Box Office.’

Yousra revealed that Elham Shahin once mortgaged her own home to cover production costs and complete a film, describing the act as an exceptional risk taken out of passion for cinema.

Elham Shahin addressed the criticism she faced regarding her film ‘Lahm Rakhees,’ attributing the backlash to social and religious tensions. She argued that certain conservative views oppose women having a powerful voice in society and that her work, which addresses real-life incidents, was unfairly targeted.

Yousra also discussed her professional history, including a past disagreement with director Inas El-Degheidy over a specific scene in the film ‘Kalam El-Layl,’ which was eventually resolved through filming adjustments.