Irish-Canadian co-production ‘Cairo Time’, directed by Canada’s Ruba Nadda (Black September, So Far Gone) began filming this week on location in Cairo, Egypt, with American actress Patricia Clarkson (Lars and the Real Girl, Good Night and Good Luck) in the lead role.

’Cairo Time’ is produced by Daniel Iron of Canada’s Foundry Films (Away From Her, Manufactured Landscapes) David Collins of Ireland’s Samson Films (Once), with Christina Vachon and Charles Pugliese of New York-based Killer Films as exec producers and shoots until July 13th.

The Canada-Ireland co-production, written by Nadda, co-stars Sudanese actor Alexander Siddig (Doomsday, Un Homme Perdu, Spanish actress Elena Anaya (Savage Grace, In the Land of Women) and Canadian Tom McCamus (Shake Hands with the Devil)

The film follows a woman who arrives in Cairo to meet her husband (McCamus) only to be told he is unavoidably delayed in Gaza. He sends his friend (Siddig), a retired Egyptian police officer, to pick her up and the brief love affair that follows catches them both completely off guard.

The film is shot by DOP Luc Montpellier (Away From Her, The Saddest Music In The World), Irish production designer Tamara Conboy (Once), costume designer Brenda Broer (Luck) and editor Teresa Hannigan (Sabah).

”We are delighted to be co-producing this project,” David Collins told IFTN. “It’s a wonderful story and there’s a great cast and crew involved. We are hoping to bring an Irish composer on board to compose the original soundtrack.”

Mongrel Media has distribution rights in Canada.