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 Kulthum, 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 places Umm Kulthum’s private life alongside the political upheavals of her era, from the final days of the monarchy through the 1952 revolution and the dream of Arab unity. It paints a portrait of an artist and businesswoman who defied convention to become a symbol of a nation’s hopes and losses.
After its world premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival in 2025, El Sett has screened at multiple international festivals. Ahead of its U.S. theatrical release, El Sett offers friends of MEI an early opportunity to see one of the most celebrated Arab films of recent years.
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.
