On 31 October and 1 November, the Cambridge Film Festival will screen the world premiere of a feature-length documentary on one of Cambridge University Library's most remarkable manuscript collections.
From Cairo to the Cloud: The World of the Cairo Geniza examines the history of a vast store of medieval manuscripts discovered in an Egyptian synagogue by intrepid twin Scottish sisters and an unconventional Cambridge professor at the end of the nineteenth century. The manuscripts revolutionised the study of the Medieval Mediterranean world. Filmmaker Michelle Paymar has brought together the leading scholars and figures in the field to examine the history of its discovery and expose the importance of its manuscripts.
Sumptuously shot, through site visits, interviews with scholars, librarians and authors (many of whom are present or past researchers in the University Library's own Genizah Research Unit), and through the words of the medieval texts themselves, the film will enlighten all those interested in learning how the Cairo Genizah has impacted the field of Jewish Studies, Mediterranean, Medieval and World History, manuscript studies, codicology and palaeography and more.
Dr Ben Outhwaite, Head of the Genizah Research Unit, says of the film: "We are thrilled to welcome the Cairo Genizah to the big screen. This film is a must-see for anyone interested in the tremendous impact the Cairo Genizah has had on our knowledge of the Middle Ages".
The screenings at the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse (31 October 7:30pm and 1 November 12:45pm) will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.
Tickets can be booked via the Cambridge Film Festival website here.