Watch the trailer for El Sett (2025). Directed by Marwan Hamed. Starring Mona Zaki, Muhammad Farrag, and Ahmad Khaled Saleh.
Based on the real-life story of Umm Kulthoum, one of the most iconic singers in Arab history, El Sett (162 min, 2025) explores the life, ambition, contradictions, and legacy of a woman whose voice transcended borders and generations and shaped the cultural identity of the Arab world.
Starring an acclaimed ensemble of Arab talent, including Mona Zaki, Ahmed Helmy, Karim Abdel Aziz and Mohamed Farag, the film revisits the life of an artist whose influence extended far beyond music, cementing her place as one of the most celebrated cultural figures in history.
After its world premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival in 2025, El Sett has screened at festivals including Rotterdam and Sydney, and it was among the most talked-about film releases in Egypt.
Not yet released in the U.S., El Sett offers friends of MEI an early opportunity to see one of the most anticipated Arab films of the year.
Registration opens at 5:00 pm, with light refreshments and snacks provided. The program begins promptly at 5:30 pm.
This film screening is part of the public programming supporting the MEI Art Gallery’s current exhibition, El Marsam: Modern and Contemporary Art from Egypt. The exhibition is on view at the MEI Art Gallery and open to the public Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., through December 11, 2026. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can schedule an appointment online. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public.
