Producer Ahmed El Sobky announced the release of the movie "The Atheist" in Egyptian theaters on 31 December (December First), ending a controversy that lasted more than a year regarding its ban from screening, and announcing its official return to the cinematic competition.
El Sobky announced the screening date by posting the official promotional trailer of the movie on his official Instagram page, explaining that the film will be shown on New Year's Eve after having obtained all the necessary approvals, giving the audience the opportunity to see it for the first time after a long period of legal and media controversy.
The permission to screen the movie came after a final judicial ruling issued by the Administrative Court of the State Council in November (November) last year, which rejected the lawsuits filed by lawyer Mortada Mansour that demanded the ban of the film from being screened.
The court affirmed in its reasons that the work is covered by an official license issued by the Audiovisual Media Authority with number 121 for the year 2023, and this was considered an "administratively positive decision" that allows its screening and does not provide any legal basis to stall it.
The court also ruled to dismiss one of the lawsuits due to the absence of an administrative decision, after the Ministry of Culture and the Supreme Council of Culture provided official documents proving the validity of the license, which officially ends all legal pathways that delayed the release of the film to the public.
It is noted that the movie "The Atheist" is written by writer Ibrahim Eissa and directed by Mohamed Jamal El Adl, featuring a cast of stars including Ahmed Hatem, Mahmoud Hemida, Sherine Reda, Tara Emad, and Naglaa Badr.
