Withdrawal of the film "The Gathering Butcher" after hours of screening sparks controversy in Egypt
The Artistic Works Control Authority halted the screening of the film "The Gathering Butcher" in Egyptian cinemas just a few hours after its debut, despite achieving high revenues on its first day.
The decision came due to the discrepancy between the filmed script and the approved script, as well as the film containing violent scenes that violated licensing conditions.
Details of the film withdrawal decision
The Artistic Works Control Authority, headed by Abdel Rahim Kamal, announced the temporary suspension of the film's screening license until further notice, and informed all cinemas to implement the decision.
This came despite the film having received official screening approval three days before its release and achieving good revenues in the early hours.
Shock among the film's creators
The crew of the film "Confessions of the Gathering Butcher" received a huge shock after the sudden decision.
The film stars Ahmed El Fishawy, is written and directed by Mohamed Salah El Azab, and produced by Ahmed El Sobky.
Writer and director Mohamed Salah El Azab expressed his discontent with the decision via his Facebook account, saying:
"What God wills has happened... after obtaining all the legal, governmental, and security permits to write, shoot, and screen the film... a sudden decision comes to withdraw the film from cinemas after it was shown in all screenings on the day of the stand."
He noted that the film achieved high revenues during the hours it was screened, describing what happened as a new precedent in the Egyptian film industry.
Reasons for the film's withdrawal from theaters
The Control Authority confirmed that the reasons for the film's withdrawal are:
- The discrepancy between the filmed script and the approved script.
- The film contains violent scenes that the relevant authorities considered a violation of licensing conditions.
This decision came despite some audience members being able to watch the film before the withdrawal was implemented.
Main cast
- Starring: Ahmed El Fishawy
- Written and directed by: Mohamed Salah El Azab
- Produced by: Ahmed El Sobky
Impact of the decision on the film market
The withdrawal of the film just days after receiving its license and starting its screening poses a challenge for filmmakers, as it was expected that the film would continue to generate revenue.
The decision raises questions about the flexibility of the Artistic Works Control Authority and the application of censorship conditions on modern cinematic works.
