Egyptian feature is the only Arab film to premiere at South by Southwest Festival

'Trapped' by Manal Khaled will stream at the annual festival in March

Official poster for 'Trapped' by Manal Khaled. Mad Solutions

Egyptian filmmaker Manal Khaled's feature debut Trapped will have its world premiere at the South By Southwest Festival, the only Arab film to be featured at the American festival this year.

The annual festival held in Texas, will run online, streaming exclusively to viewers in the US from Tuesday, March 16 to Saturday, March 20.

The event will feature political activist and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Stacey Abrams, who will give the keynote speech, as well as speakers Desus Nice and The Kid Mero, Mary J. Blige, Bill Hader, Melinda Gates, James Cameron, and Demi Lovato.

Trapped follows the stories of seven women from different walks of life whose destinies are tied together, but who feel trapped in their situation. As the events unfold, their own personal stories reflect on a far bigger siege that depicts the shackles imposed by a patriarchal society.

The film, which had been in the making since 2011, had been also funded through a fundraising campaign on Indiegogo.

Directed and produced by Khaled, the film is co-written with Rasha Azab, and stars Caroline Khalil, Reem Hegab, Osama Abo El Ata, Ne’ma Mohsen, Mona Mokhtar, and Sara’a Jebel.

Khaled is an Egyptian filmmaker who studied Philosophy at the Alexandria University. She worked in Misr International Films as an assistant director and has worked with award-winning directors, such as Saad Hendawi, Kamla Abo Zekri, Hani Khalifa and Mohamed Ali. Her early works consisted of documentary and short fiction films, before has mad a move to feature-length fiction films.