Panorama of the European Film to diversify Egyptian cinematic scene

CAIRO – 30 October 2017: Workshops and lectures led by professionals in the anticipated 10th Panorama European Film are expected to benefit rising filmmakers and directors. This edition will run between November 8 to 18 in aims to diversify Egyptian cinematic scene. .

This edition will not feature any competitions; however the main focus will be driven to contributing to the Egyptian cinematic scene, according to the board of directors who announced details about the edition in a press conference on Sunday.

The film screenings that are part of this edition will take place in film venues such as Cairo's Zawya and Zamalek cinemas in addition to the free screenings at the Goethe Institut and French Institution in Egypt.


Promoting diversity comes as a result of encouraging Egyptians to see an array of works from different cultures besides the workshops and lectures given by professional directors and filmmakers to promote the cinematic scene, according to the edition’s director Malak Makar who spoke to Egypt Today.

“Spanning over 11 days, this year’s edition is different than the previous editions as it will expand in 10 governorates marking the 10th edition of Panorama European Film ”, added Makar.

Around six screenings in the governorates in Zagazig, Damietta, Qena, Mansoura and Minya, according to this edition’s president said the President of the festival Marianne Khoury.

The program in this edition will feature 55 films ranging from features, documentaries, short films and archival films from 26 European countries including Germany, France, Georgia, Bulgaria, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine among others.

Incorporated for the first time in the program of the panorama in 2016, the Urban Lens section under the theme “Mysterious London” brings London into the spotlight in this edition through three classic films such as “The Frenzy” as well as “Night and the City.”

Devoted to bringing the latest award-winning films from the most prestigious festivals, panorama European film will include many famous films that will be divided into the following sections: 19 films in the main narrative features, 10 films from emerging directors, nine features and seven short documentaries in the Rendez-Vous section, and finally, three films in the Lounge section chosen by directors Ali Badrakhan, Kamlah Abu-Zikri and Tamer Said.

Panorama’s program is also welcoming film professionals to share their experiences and expertise with the Egyptian audiences through a number of workshops and master-classes. They will be giving workshops in documentary filmmaking and scriptwriting.

In addition, additional shows will be hosted at Point 90 Cinema.

CNC Channel will screen archival films in the program about Egypt made by artists John Rauch and the Lumiere brothers, Khoury stated.

“The quality of the program is always exceptional. I probably watch more films during the panorama than I do during the rest of the year,” noted the Head of Program Arts for British Council Cathy Costain.

On behalf of the UK, Costain highlighted during the press conference that the film “Loving Vincent” is the first fully painted feature film. All the characters are performed by real actors, but each of the film’s 6,500 animated frames is an oil painting on canvas using the same techniques as Van Gogh’s have been created by a team of 115 painters.

One of the French representatives in the panorama, the French Institute in Egypt expressed its pleasure in participating in the panorama, which has been a key participant since its first edition when the majority of films were French, the Communication of Public Relation Director at the French Institute Victor Salama explained.

“Obviously, our partnership with Egypt is not just financial we also work very closely on a yearly basis with the panorama team and Zawaya team in doing subtitles for films;the last one was the animation film called ‘Adama’,” Salama added.

The first secretary for the Political Economic and Cultural Affairs in the Embassy of Sweden Ahmed Ismail has further emphasized the importance of the event stating that it promotes European films including Swedish films
“We are honored to present ‘The Square’ in the panorama,” he added.

One of the Swedish films that will be screened this year is “The Square” was directed by Ruben Östlund that had received the highest cinema honor at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.

Italy will also introduce three unprecedentedly successful films including “Easy,” “Pure Hearts” and “Master Universe;” the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute Paolo Sabbatini affirmed.

Sabbatini mentioned that “Perfect Strangers,” which has been on the screen for almost three months and subtitled by the European Film Festival team will be presented every week in Zawya and Zamalek cinema. The film revolves aroundcontemporary society and the use of mobile phones and the loss of privacy.

One of the places that will screen films participating in the panorama is the Goethe Institute, Jauna Killer, the Cultural Program Director of the Goethe Institute, confirmed.

Four films in the program are from Germany and two of them are revolving around historical personalities; the famous artist Joseph Beuys and Karl Marx. Those two films s will be creened at Biennale Film Festival in Berlin, while the third one, “Vesta,” won an award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Irish films "The Killing of a Sacred Deer," which was awarded one of the top prizes at Cannes Film Festival will be included in the program along with "School Life" as well.

“Funding is one of the obstacles that always face the Panorama as we try to make tickets affordable to all Egyptians, and this increases the Panorama’s budget,” Makar stated.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Egyptian Film Center, this edition is funded by the European Union, British Council, Goethe Institute, French and Cultural Cultural Centers in Egypt, alongside with embassies of Ireland, Holland, Sweden, and Portugal, among other media partners.