Ep 55: Behind the scenes of Luxor with director Zeina Durra and cinematographer Zelmira Gainza

Luxor stars Andrea Riseborough as a British aid worker navigating the Egyptian city as she meets her ex-boyfriend and struggles from recent traumas. Writer-director Zeina Durra (The Imperialists Are Still Alive!) and our first ever cinematographer guest Zelmira Gainza chat to Anna about their film. The friends talk Anna through their careers so far, from their Fame-like experiences at NYU, to the challenges they’ve faced as women in executive roles on film sets. Turning to Luxor, Zeina reveals what it was like to work with actor Andrea Riseborough, and Zelmira gives a fascinating insight into her role as DOP. Delving further into Luxor, Anna and critic Leslie Felperin celebrate how the film creates a sense of place and pulls us in with its mysteries, brilliant performances and playfulness. They then move on to two more new releases. First they discuss the jazzy upcoming family animation Soul and praise Disney-Pixar’s original and earnest storytelling. Finally, they look at the inspiring new documentary I Am Belmaya. What they’ve been watching: Zeina: Mangrove, The Queen’s Gambit, The Crown Zelmira: Chaos, Star Wars Leslie: The Crown, The Undoing, Brave New World, The Nest (2020) Anna: The Third Day Other mentions: Fame, The Princess and the Frog (2009), Joanna Hogg’s films, Inside Out Become a patron of Girls on Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXvkgGofjDzj5mCFL89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Executive producer: Hedda Archbold. Producer: Jane Long. Principal Partner: Peter Brewer. Assistant Producer and Social Media Manager: Heather Dempsey. Intern: Elliana Jay.