The attention of the global motion picture industry is on the lively capital of Egypt for the next nine days as the 41st edition of Cairo International Film Festival opens. The festival commenced last night a star-studded red carpet opening ceremony and film screening that celebrates ace director, Martin Scorsese.
Headed by Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy, CIFF is rated as one of the 15 A-list film festivals in the world and its opening on Wednesday evening was rich with the glitz and glamour of a major filmfest, drawing Egypt’s renowned actors and filmmakers as well as foreign producers to the Cairo Opera House’s Main Hall, where the ceremony held.
Hefzy declared open the 41st edition of the festival on behalf of Culture Minister, Ines Abdel Dayem, who missed the event due to her participation as part of an official delegation at the Forum of Ministers of Culture held by UNESCO in Paris.
Hosted by Egyptian actors Khaled El-Sawy and Ahmed Dawoud, as well as Egyptian actress Dina El-Sherbiny, the celeromy began at 8pm with a short documentary on the life of late film critic and historian, Youssef Sherif Rizkallah, to whom this year’s festival is dedicated. The documentary captured Rizkallah’s work in television, and his appearances at international film festivals, among many other moments of his life, and his contribution to Egypt’s cinema industry.
El-Sawy described Rizkallah as “an Egyptian YouTube of cinema knowledge.”
Rizkallah passed away in July after serving as the festival’s artistic director since 2000. He had joined the festival in 1987 as its artistic secretary.
Amidst several performances at the black tie event, special awards were presented to deserving Egyptian cineastes.
Hend Sabry was on hand to present the Faten Hamama Excellence Award to her colleague, Menna Shalaby. The honoured actress enthused that though she had received many local and international awards, being awarded by the Cairo
International Film Festival is incomparable to any other recognition. “Faten Hamama was a great actress and someone I always looked up to,” Shalaby added in reference to the uniqueness of the award.
Filmmaker Sherif Arafa was presented the Faten Hamama Honorary Award. The award was presented to him by Youssra, who praised the director and the festival’s organisation under Hefzy’s management.
While receiving the award, Arafa said it is one of the most important moments in his life. “I stand behind the camera, I don’t know how to make speeches, but since I have to say a few words, I’d like to thank all the people who made me who I am, starting with my mother and father [Egyptian director] Saad Arafa who was my first teacher.”
The Faten Hamama Honorary and Excellence awards are granted every year to senior and promising artists in the local and international cinema scene. The award was designed by famous sculptor Adam Hanin.
This year’s festival has a special focus on the Mexican cinema, drawing many parallels between the cinematic history of Egypt and Msxico: the rise and fall, followed by today’s younger generation of filmmakers who take the seventh art towards fascinating paths.
The festival honoured an Oscar-nominee, Mexican screenwriter-director Guillermo Arriaga, while a short film was screened to highlight the rich trajectory of Mexican cinema, which is considered one of the 10 biggest filmmaking countries in the world.
American writer, Steve Gaghan, heads the main festival Jury this year with other members that include Ibrahim Abdel Meguid (Egypt), directors Marion Hanse (Belgium), Michel Franco (Mexico), Daniele Luchetti (Italy), and actress Qin Hailu (China).
The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) as always also has its own Jury, which will award a special prize to the best international film in competition at the festival.
The opening ceremony also paid special tribute to important figures of the Egyptian cinema who have passed away this year: actor Ezzat Abo Ouf, the former president of the festival and most recently Haitham Ahmed Zaki.
The colourful evening was rounded off with the screening of Martin’s Scorcese’s The Irishman, which was introduced by Ahmed Shawky, the festival’s acting director.
With over 150 films showing across various venues, the Cairo International Film Festival runs till next Friday November 29.
Shawky tells TCN that the festival will screen about 130 feature films, and 20 shorts from a total of 63 countries, with many premieres in numerous competitive and non-competitive segments.
He added that aside screenings and discussion panels, the festival will also feature Cairo Industry Days for the second year in a row. Following its great success last year, Cairo Industry Days brings together local and international filmmakers, producers and other figures in the industry, with the aim of creating many opportunities for Arab filmmakers and storytellers.
At the top of the festival’s competitive segment is CIFF’s main competition which has 15 films from across the world. The International Critics’ Week on the other hand comprises of seven films with two awards offered to winners.
The festival will also grant $15,000 for Best Arab Film award offered to the producer of a film chosen by the Jury.
