Sheikh Jackson Explained

Sheikh Jackson
Director:	Amr Salama
Starring:	Ahmed El Fishawy Ahmed Malek Maged El Kedwany
Studio:	Film-Clinic Cleopatra Entertainment IProductions Rotana TV The Producers Films
Distributor:	Rotana Studios
Runtime:	93 minutes
Country:	Egypt
Language:	Arabic

Sheikh Jackson is a 2017 Egyptian drama film directed by Amr Salama. It was screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.^[1] It was selected as the Egyptian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.^[2]

Plot

An Islamic cleric who likes to dress as Michael Jackson is thrown into a tailspin in the wake of the singer's death.

Cast

• Ahmed El-Fishawy
• Maged El Kedwany
• Ahmed Malek
• Salma Abu Deif
• Basma
• Dorra

Controversy

In December 2017 in Egypt the film was referred to Al-Azhar University for investigation of blasphemy, despite it having been cleared by Egypt's censorship committee. When film critic Tarek El-Shenawy defended the film, many Facebook readers responded with angry insults against him and the film.^[3]

See also

• List of submissions to the 90th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of Egyptian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

Notes and References

1. Web site: Toronto Film Festival 2017 Unveils Strong Slate . Deadline . 25 July 2017 . 25 July 2017.
2. Web site: Oscars: Egypt Selects 'Sheikh Jackson' for Foreign-Language Category . The Hollywood Reporter . Etan . Vlessing . 11 September 2017 . 11 September 2017.
3. Web site: Social Islamism In Egypt. 27 December 2017. 28 December 2017.