Microphone (film)
Microphone is a 2010 Egyptian independent drama directed by Ahmad Abdalla. It follows Khaled Abol Naga as he returns to Alexandria and reconnects with a city where his old life is changing. His relationship with his love and his strained bond with his father push him to roam the streets, where he discovers an underground art scene—hip-hop on sidewalks, female rock musicians on rooftops, skateboarding, and graffiti. With limited resources, he tries to support this movement and draw attention to Alexandria’s diverse artists, signaling a shift away from Cairo.
The film stars Khaled Abol Naga, Menna Shalabi, Hany Adel, and Yosra El Lozy. It runs 122 minutes and is in Arabic. Microphone premiered on September 14, 2010 at the Toronto International Film Festival and is Ahmad Abdalla’s second feature after Heliopolis. It’s notable for featuring Alexandria’s local skateboarding scene.
Awards and recognition include Best Arabic-language Film at the Cairo International Film Festival, the Golden Tanit at the Carthage Film Festival (October 2010), and Best Editing at the Dubai International Film Festival (2010). The film was produced by Mohamed Hefzy and Khaled Abol Naga and distributed by Rotana Studios.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:57 (CET).