On his web site Emanual Levy, One of the best predictors of the Oscars wrote on the Yacoubian Movie.

Oscar 2006: Controversial Yacoubian Building to represent Egypt

Oct 2, 2006-"The Yacoubian Building," at $4 million the most expensive production in Egyptian cinema history, broke records with a $2 million B.O. take in its first three weeks of domestic release. However, it has been criticized at home for its daring portrayal of Islamic fundamentalism, police brutality and homosexuality