MAD World Secures Sales Rights to Cairo Shadows
The Cairo-set feature by Salem Massalha will hold its world premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Film — General
MAD World, the global sales arm of Cairo-based MAD Solutions, has secured world sales rights to Cairo Shadows. The film, directed by Salem Massalha, is set to premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival in November 2026.
Why it matters
Securing international sales rights ahead of a festival premiere positions the film for distribution beyond its home market. The deal places a debut feature from a Cairo-based sales house on the global festival circuit.
Co-writer and producer Rani Massalha's previous work includes the short Elvis Of Nazareth, which won the Unifrance jury prize at Cannes in 2011, and the feature Giraffada, which premiered at Toronto in 2013. Financial terms of the sales agreement were not disclosed.
The players
MAD World
MAD World is the global sales arm of Cairo-based MAD Solutions, handling international distribution for independent Arab cinema.
Salem Massalha
Salem Massalha is an filmmaker making his feature directorial debut with Cairo Shadows.
Les Films du Tambour
Les Films du Tambour is a Paris-based production company that produced Cairo Shadows.
The details
Cairo Shadows is produced by Paris-based Les Films du Tambour and features an ensemble cast led by Hassan Malek, Tara Emad, Kamel El Basha and Hamza El Eily. The screenplay was co-written by Gladys Marciano, Valerie Maureau and Rani Massalha, and the story is set in the Zabaleen district on the outskirts of Cairo.
Timeline
November 2026: world premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival
Festival Pipeline
The project continues a path the Massalha family established with Elvis Of Nazareth's Cannes 2011 Unifrance jury prize and the Toronto premiere of Giraffada in 2013. Securing sales rights before the Marrakech premiere follows the same festival-first trajectory.
Viewers will be able to see Cairo Shadows at the Marrakech International Film Festival premiere in November 2026. The sales deal suggests wider distribution to follow, though no release dates or platforms have been announced.
The takeaway
Festival premieres and international sales deals are often the first signals of where an independent film will reach audiences. Following a film's festival schedule is the most reliable way to track its release path.
What happens next
Cairo Shadows is scheduled to hold its world premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival in November 2026.
Further reading
For more on the film business and festival circuit, explore Film — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Screen.
