Entertainment News Roundup

Asala’s ‘Nos Hala’ in ‘Mikano’

Actress and producer Isaad Younes, owner of The Arabian Company for Production and Cinema Distribution has obtained rights to use Asala’s new song ‘Nos Hala’ in upcoming movie ‘Mikano’.

“Actress Isaad Younes heard ‘Nos Hala’, from Asala’s latest album. She liked the lyrics that suit the romantic movie and the state that actor Tayem Hassan’s character in the film goes through, so she decided to get official rights to use it in the movie,” The Arabian Company’s spokesman Abdel-Gelil Hasan told FilFan.com.

Mikano is scheduled to be out Nov. 26 after director Mahmoud Kamel wraps up the post-production phase.

The film also stars Tayem Hassan, Nour, Khaled El-Sawi, Rasha Mahdi, Khaled Mahmoud and Lotfi Labib.

Nancy Ajram Wins World Music Award 2008

Nancy Ajram has been chosen to receive an award at this year’s World Music Awards. The Lebanese singer is getting ready to travel to Monaco for the big night with her manager Jiji Lamara.

“Nancy is living the best days of her life now after being chosen for this award as a result of her efforts and singing talent,” Lamara told El-Masri El-Youm.

“This award isn’t sold as rumored,” Lamara added.

He also confirmed that the singer’s husband Dr. Fadi Hashem isn’t going with her to attend the awards’ ceremony, scheduled on Nov. 9. Lamara and Hashem have already agreed previously that Hashem has nothing to do with Ajram’s career and Lamara has nothing to do with Ajram’s domestic life.

“Ehki Ya Shahrazad” shot in 80 locations

Director Youssry Nasrallah has decided on 80 different locations to shoot his upcoming movie “Ehki Ya Shahrazad”, starring Mona Zaki.

Nasrallah said it will be a very difficult and tiring experience, but it will be vital to the core of the story. Production will take about nine weeks.

Asked about why Carole Samaha and Ghada Abdel-Razek turned down roles in the movie, Nasrallah said the first wanted her debut experience in the movie world to be a solo stint, while the latter had no excuse.

The movie will also star Mahmoud Hemeida, Hussein El-Imam, Sawsan Badr, Mohamed Ramadan and Nahed Medhat El-Sebaie.

Zeina shoots “El-Daheya”

Actress Zeina is preparing for her new movie “El-Daheya”, alongside superstar Mostafa Shaaban. The movie produced by Melody Pictures will be directed by Hossam El-Gohary.

Zeina, who was selected for the role after several other actresses turned it down first, will be getting a weak LE 380,000 for the movie. The director is currently choosing the remainder of the cast and crew, according to Egyptian tabloid Akhbar Al-Nogoom.

Melody Pictures have reportedly allocated LE 8 million for the movie, which will be shot in Cairo and Germany throughout eight weeks.

The movie, which has a social dramatic backdrop, will retain its original name after originally being titled “Ded El-Gameea”.

Mostafa’s last work was the summer flop “Juba”.

Entertainment News Roundup

Angham preps new album

Egyptian pop star Angham is finalizing her album, which is scheduled for release during the Eid Adha vacation.

“Angham has chosen one of my songs, ‘We Bahebbak Hatta Law Tebead’, to include in her new album. She’s working on it right now and will wrap it up pretty soon,” composer Mohamed Yehya told FilFan.com exclusively.

Yehya added the song was written by lyricist Amir Teama and composed by Hassan El-Shafie.

Angham’s last LP, entitled “Kol Ma Ne’arab”, came out in 2007 through Rotana. Two songs had videos produced.

Ezz recovers from surgery, ready for ‘Khayal El-Zel’

Fully recovered from his recent gallbladder removal surgery, Ahmed Ezz is currently preparing to shoot upcoming cinema project ‘Khayal El-Zel’.

After going through much gallbladder pain, the actor had the surgery before leaving the hospital last Saturday, according to El-Dostour.

‘Khayal El-Zel’, was written by Mohamed Diab and helmed by Amr Arafa.

Filming was originally scheduled to start at the end of last August, but was postponed because Diab was still finishing the movie. Shooting is expected to take six weeks

The action-thriller is set for a summer 2009 release.

Nour engaged to Syrian businessman

Lebanese actress Nour and Egypt-born Syrian businessman Youssef Antaqi celebrated their engagement at the actress’s home in Lebanon.

Nour and Antaqi, 40, celebrated the happy event in an intimate gathering with their families, El-Dostour reported.

Nour and Antaqi, who lives and works in Egypt, will start furnishing their home in Cairo next month.

In other news, Nour can be seen in television drama ‘Domou El-Amar’ during Ramadan. The series also stars Riyad El-Kholi, Rani Farid Shawki and Abir Sabri.

Labas angry at AIFF decision

Lebanese actress Carmen Labas has expressed her anger at the Alexandria International Film Festival, whose management cancelled her participation on the judging panel.

“I was very surprised when I found that my plane ticket was canceled only one day before the festival without notification,” Labas said in a statement sent to FilFan.com.

“Workers at the Beirut airport told me my ticket was void. They had already cancelled the movie “All What Lola Wants”, so why keep me away after choosing me to be on the panel?

“I had cancelled many of my social and artistic engagements and projects to attend the festival and had only asked the management to finish viewing the participants early so I could leave to Paris for work and they had said ok,” she added.

Labas is now insisting she receive an official apology for the “inappropriate” behavior.