Biography
Zena Ashraf AbdelBaky is an Egyptian writer and director who has recently made waves in the filmmaking scene with her film MEEN YESADAQ, which world-premiered at the 45th Cairo International Film Festival to astounding acclaim.
Driven by her passion for filmmaking, Zena studied at the Digital Film Academy in New York. She then traveled between the United States and England, taking on various roles that allowed her to develop a comprehensive understanding of the filmmaking craft.
From 2018 to 2021, Zena directed a number of short films, including THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL, which screened at the Indie Short Fest, where she was nominated for Best Young Filmmaker, and ALL THAT REMAINS, which won the Best Short Film Award at the Feedback Film Festival in Toronto.
Her breakthrough came with her debut feature film, MEEN YESADAQ, which she co-wrote along with Mostafa Khaled Bahgat and directed. Starring Youssef Omar, Jayda Mansour, Ashraf AbdelBaky, and Sherif Mounir, the film tells the story of Nadine, who, feeling empty and lost, meets a scam artist named Bassem. He offers her the love and attention she has been missing, and together they embark on a series of scams that lead them into numerous problems, jeopardizing their love story and other aspects of their lives.
Being screened in Egyptian cinemas, MEEN YASADAA has received honorary awards at the AUC Film Festival. The film also features a soundtrack of four songs, including "Ana Negm W Labes Sheek" by famed rap artist Abo El Anwar, and "Meen Ysadak," performed by Nour and El Dab3, which went viral on social media platforms, generating over 1 million views on YouTube. Other tracks include "Dawama" by Perie and "Adeena Aho 3refna" by Lella Fadda.
Reflecting on the unique environment and culture she grew up in, Zena strives to showcase the effects of westernization on traditional culture, bringing a distinct perspective to her storytelling.
