The directors wanted to shake up discussion about prevalent religious discourse in Egypt. Now the film Mawlana (The Preacher) faces major backlash from the country's biggest imams.
The film, based on TV journalist Ibrahim Essa's bestselling book Mawlana, aims to challenge conservative Muslim clerics, religious extremists and fanatical ideologies.
It has caused outrage among many Egyptians who saw it as an across-the-board mockery of religious establishments in the country.
Mansour Mandour, chief imam at the Ministry of Religious Endowments, urged cinemas across the country to stop the film from being aired to crowds of people in a Facebook post.
"Before this turns into a disaster we demand that this dissent is tackled and tat [the film] is stopped from being shown," Mandour said, according to Al Araby.
"The film exposes imams to mockery, laughter and ridicule from anyone and everyone."
Others have said that the film insults al-Azhar, Egypt's top Islamic authority.
"This film has no place in Egyptian cinemas," said Mohammad Ragab, leader of the Daffea Movement.
The cleric in the film, played by Amr Saad, defends the Mu'tazila school which may have triggered the backlash, as the school of thought discourages strict application of outed religious sayings.
Magdy Ahmed Ali, the director behind the film was afraid this might happen.
"The goal of the film is actually to challenge the critics of my religion and the Islamophobic rhetoric that tries to make Islam look like a religion of terrorism and violence," Ali told Al Araby.
The film plays an important role in critiquing corruption at the governmental level, with one of the scenes debating the "politicization of religion and the way it's been petrified to foster hatred of the other."
Ali's aim was "not to demonize religious people who claim to hold the truth, but to show their paradoxes and their suffering."
The film intends to encourage people to fight fanatical ideologies rather than overlook them. It criticizes authorities who allow extremists to "use mosques as platforms to spread their ideas."
The lead actor in the film Amr Saad added that the film's core message is that a modernization of religious discourse is much needed.
But many in the online community have made a strong show of support for the film.
*The movie Mawlana deserves to be seen. The scenes are powerful and beautiful. I thank the entire team behind the film for their hard work. Mabrouk to you all and to the talented Amr Saad*
*My friend Amr Saad and the entire staff did a great job on the film Mawlana. Amr Saad, as always, you are a brilliant actor. May God grant you success*
*If the message behind the film Mawlana is delivered eloquently, this would be the best thing Egyptian cinema will have achieved in the last 40 years*