Sabry, Kidwany to receive Faten Hamama Award

CAIRO – 4 November 2017: The 39th Cairo International Film Festival management has decided to grant the Faten Hamama Honorary Award this year to the famous Egyptian-Tunisian actress Hend Sabry and the well-known Egyptian actor Maged el Kidwany.

Sabry was born in Tunisia in 1979. In 2004 she completed her masters in intellectual property and copyright law. Sabry starred in “the Silences of the Palace” in 1994 and “the Season of Men” in 2000, both movies directed by Moufida Tlatli. Her talent attracted the Egyptian director Inas al-Degheidy, who chose her to star in her movie “Mothakerat Morahkah” (a Teenager's Dairies) in 2001.

The veteran Egyptian director Dawoud Abdel Sayed surprised everyone by nominating her for the role of an Egyptian girl in the movie “Mouatin Wa Mokhbir Wa Harami” (Citizen Informant and Thief). Sabry sold the role like a girl that was raised in the heart of Cairo. Sabry starred in different roles in various films such as “Ahla El Awqat” (the Most Beautiful Times) , “Banat Weset El Balad” (Downtown Girls), “Ouija” and “the Yacoubian Building.”

Kidwany was born in Shubra, Cairo, but spent his childhood and youth in Kuwait. he went back to Cairo to attend Faculty of Fine Arts. After his graduation, he joined the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts to study acting and graduated in 1995. He started his professional acting career in 1996 with the “Afareet el-Asphat” (Asphalt Ghosts) soap opera, which shed light on his acting talent.

His acting career bloomed in 2001, when he starred in many movies such as “Harameya Fi KG2” (Thieves in KG2) and “El Ragol El Abiad El Motawasset’ (Mediterranean Man).

One of his most remarkable roles was in the movie “678” which discusses sexual harassment in Egypt. He won the Best Actor Award at the Chicago International Film Festival for his role in “678,” and also Best Actor for the same role from the Dubai International Film Festival.

The Faten Hamama Honorary Award is usually given to young artists and filmmakers with significant contributions to the art of cinema.