CAIRO - October 27 2017: Egyptian Minister of Culture Helmy Namnam witnessed the closing ceremony of the 21st edition of Egyptian National Film Festival.
The slogan of this edition, headed by veteran Egyptian director Samir Seif, is “Cinema Shoa'a' Lel Ghad” (Cinema Beam for Tomorrow), organized by the Cultural Development Fund.
“This festival is considered an important festival for Egyptian cinema, which spreads light, beauty and thoughts of freedom, while facing hideousness,” Namnam stated during his speech in the closing ceremony.
Egyptian National Film Festival closing ceremony – official Facebook page
Namnam expressed his great happiness with this edition of the festival, declaring that despite its launch in Cairo, its events that took place in the other Egyptian governorates were well received, especially in Upper Egypt.
Namnam noted that they are planning to hold the performances of the next edition of the festival in Upper Egypt governorates, from Beni Suef to Aswan, and that the festival's performances will reach all Egyptian centers and villages. The Minister of Culture stressed as well on the need to focus on border provinces so that Egyptian art reaches all Egyptians.
“Young filmmakers are great and very promising; the coming generations own the future. We must support and give them the opportunity,” Namnam said. The Minister of Culture asked the attendees to stand for a minute of mourning for the spirit of the great critic Mohamed Abdel-Fattah, who passed away a few days ago.
Egyptian National Film Festival closing ceremony – official Facebook page
“The closing ceremony is the only ceremony for the festival, in an attempt to restore the festival to its original nature as the largest and most important national festival celebrating Egyptian cinema production throughout the year,” Samir Seif, the festival head, recounted in his speech.
Seif added that the festival’s management was keen in this edition not to abandon the traditions of the festival in honoring Egypt’s artistic symbols, which have expanded this year, in addition to honoring those who have dedicated their lives to the Egyptian cinema industry and the important publications issued by the festival to document the achievements of those honored.
Egyptian National Film Festival closing ceremony – official Facebook page
Seif recounted that the real breakthrough and the greatest achievement for this edition is the existence of the festival performances and screenings at the same time in five governorates, in addition to Cairo, to achieve cultural justice and support the cultural movement throughout Egypt, hoping that these performances spread to the other governorates as soon as possible, not only screening the movies, but holding seminars after screenings that are run by specialized critics to achieve the desired effect of Egyptian cinema.
“I hope that the future cinema will really be a cinema of love of life, making joy and raising feelings. I am sure all of these will be achieved first by God’s will and also by the promising young filmmakers’ will,” Seif said. He noted that “Cinema Beam for Tomorrow” is the slogan of this edition, and the festival screenings and movies well served this slogan.
Egyptian National Film Festival closing ceremony – official Facebook page
The honored artists went on stage to receive their honors after the speeches by Namnam and Seif. The festival honored the great actress Lobna Abdel Aziz, the famous Egyptian director Khairy Beshara, the well-known cinema photography director Mohsen Ahmed and montage specialist Laila Fahmy.
Awards for feature films
The jury decided to award a certificate of appreciation to director John Ikram for his film “Rouge”.
The jury also decided to award a certificate of appreciation for the film “El Bar el Tany” ( The Second Mainland).
The Special award, worth LE 20,000 ($1,133), was won by artist Zaki Aref for the film “Nawara”.
The Sound award, valued at LE 20,000, was awarded to Ahmed Jaber for the movie “Hepta”.
The Music award, valued at LE 20,000, was given to the famous musician Tamer Karwan for the music of the “Youm lel Setat” (A Day for Women).
Ahmed Hafez won the Montage award for the movie "Eshtabak” (Clash), valued at LE 20,000.
The Outfits award (LE 20,000) went to Monia Fateh el Bab for the film “Men Talateen Sana” (Thirty Years Ago).
The Artistic Design award (LE 20,000) was given to Kamal Magdi for the film “Elly Ektasho Mato” (Those Who Were Embarrassed Died).
The award for Best Supporting Actress (LE 20,000) went to the renowned actress Rajaa Hussein for her role in “Nawara”.
The award Best Actress (LE 30,000) went to the famous actress Shalaby for her role in “Nawara”.
The award for Best Supporting Actor (LE 20,000) was awarded to the veteran actor Maged el Kidwany for his role in “Hepta”.
The award for Best Actor (LE 30,000) was awarded to the actor and singer Amir Salah Eldin for his role in “Nawara”.
The Photography award (LE 30,000) was given to the artist Gamal al-Bouchi for “Hepta”.
The Script award (LE 30,000) went to the scriptwriter Wael Hamdi for “Hepta”.
The Best Director award for a first work (LE 20,000) went to the director Mohammed Diab for his film “Eshtebak”.
The Best Director award (LE 50,000) went to the director Hala Khalil for “Nawara”.
Short feature films
The Shadi Abdel Salam award for a first work (LE 8,000) was given to the director Youssef Nomaan for the independent production film “Gamila” (Beautiful).
The Jury prize, worth LE 16,000, went to director Majid Nader for the film “Fathi la Yaeesh Hona Alan” (Fathi Does Not Live Here Anymore), which was produced by Rahala Productions and Distribution.
The Best Film award (LE 24,000) went to the director Ahmed Fostok for the film “Fook” (Above), which was produced by the Higher Institute of Cinema.
The Saad Nadim award for a first work (LE 8,000) went to director Loay Galal for the independent production film “El Youm Kad Yakon El Akheer fe el Amal” (Today May Be the Last Day for Work).
The Jury prize for documentary films up to 15 minutes (LE 16,000) was given to director Medhat Majed for “El Manfa” (Exile), produced by the Higher Institute of Cinema.
The award for the Best Documentary Film up to 15 minutes (LE 24,000) went to Ahmed Essam El Sayed for the film “Akherety el Oula” (My First Ending), produced by the Higher Institute of Cinema.
The Jury prize for documentary films more than 15 minutes (LE 16,000) went to the director Wahid Sobhi for the film "We Are Egyptians and Armenians", produced by Sherif Mandour.
The award for the Best Documentary Film more than 15 minutes (LE 16,000) went to the director Dina Abdel Salam for the film “Kan w Akhwatha” (Kan and Her Sisters).
Besides Seif and Namnam, the closing ceremony was attended by head of the Cairo Opera House Enas Abdel Dayem, head of the Cultural Development Fund Ahmed Awad, head of the Supreme Council of Culture Hatem Rabie, and a group of notable actors and actresses. The ceremony began with the national anthem, followed by an operetta titled “Cinema Beam for Tomorrow” by the singers Marwa Nagy and Mohamed Abbas.
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