Celebrating Women–in Front of and Behind the Camera

The European Union in Egypt is supporting the Aswan International Women Film Festival (AIWFF) this year.

The first ever Egyptian film festival dedicated to women’s issues, AIWFF highlights women-related issues and their right to achieve their fullest potentials.

It is an important occasion through which cinematographers representing different countries renew their dialogue about the critical role of women in society. 

“This year, the Aswan International Women Film Festival enjoys a wide participation from European Union Member States and Mediterranean Countries. This demonstrates a strong interest in a very special festival dedicated to women,” says Ambassador Christian Berger, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Egypt.

“In the framework of the EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities, the EU works with Egypt in support of programmes and initiatives that promote women and youth’ empowerment, and cultural exchanges.

Our contribution to the festival has become a centerpiece of the EU Gender Action Plan and the New Agenda for the Mediterranean.

I am very pleased that with the EU’s support, we put a spotlight on films and the cinematic industry addressing women’s rights. Young women and men, especially from Aswan, have been trained to use cinematic art as a means to promote shared commitments.

Through our strategic partnerships, the EU will continue to support young women and men in achieving their aspirations,” he added.

Cinema has a considerable influence in shaping people’s beliefs, values and perception of reality.

It can influence stereotypes that may hinder women to achieve their aspirations as equally as men.

The European Union supports projects who promote gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment including in cinematic and cultural domains.

Last year the European Union in Egypt supported two workshops for scriptwriting and filmmaking.

This year, 210 young women and men from Aswan selected to participate in six workshops that address different cinematic domains, through the EU support in cooperation with EU National institutes for Culture (EUNIC) namely two workshops in scriptwriting and filmmaking.

Ten films were produced in the workshops and films were produced throughout the workshops and will further compete during the festival.

The winning film will be announced during a special closure for the workshops on 28 June. In March 2021, a total of 71 young people participated in the EU supported two workshops on filmmaking and script writing (39 women and 32 men). 

In this 5th edition, the European Union in Egypt is sponsoring the ‘Euro-Mediterranean Film Competition’ in collaboration with EUNIC Egypt.

The competition will encompass eight feature films: two Egyptian and six European films representing Austria and Germany (joint production), Belgium, France, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.  

The EU is awarding a special prize of EUR3,000 to the best film addressing women’s rights and empowerment that will be delivered to the winner during the closing ceremony on 29 June 2021.