Egypt’s Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in Egyptian Cinema (2023)

Duration: 49:50 min

Countries of production: Egypt - United Kingdom

Languages: Arabic - English

Filming locations: Egypt - France - Germany - United Kingdom

Egypt’s Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in Egyptian Cinema is a feature documentary that delves into the portrayal of male homosexuality in Egyptian films from 1963 to 2018. Tracing over five decades of cinematic history, the film explores how directors, writers, and actors have shaped — and been shaped by — the complex cultural attitudes surrounding homosexuality in Egypt.

Through revealing interviews with filmmakers, critics, and industry insiders, the documentary uncovers the visual and narrative techniques used to represent gay men on screen, exposing how these artistic choices often echo persistent social taboos and moral anxieties.

As the first documentary of its kind, Egypt’s Celluloid Closet not only examines cinema’s role in constructing queer identities but also poses a larger question: how can film both mirror and challenge the beliefs of the society that creates it?