SAFF's new poster features late actress Soad Hosny

CAIRO – 17 January 2019: The new poster of Sharm El-Sheikh Asian Film Festival has been revealed. The festival is set to run from March 2-8 and is headed by director Magdy Ahmed Ali.

The poster is designed by fine artist Ahmed el-Labad, illustrating a rare portrait of the late renowned actress Soad Hosny. The poster portrays the Asian culture representing the nature of the festival.

Director Magdy Ahmed Ali announced that the festival is dedicated to the late actress, reflecting the deep appreciation for Hosny’s enriching and everlasting cinematic contributions that greatly influenced the Egyptian Cinema.

He further stated that Hosni has never been properly honored in previous film festivals after her death, which caused a massive shock to the Egyptian cinema and community.

Hosny was an Egyptian actress born in Cairo. She was known as the "Cinderella of Egyptian Cinema" and is one of the most influential actresses in the Middle East and the Arab world.

She ascended to stardom at the end of the 1950’s, performing in more than 83 films between 1959 and 1991.

The majority of her films were shot in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Her final screen appearance was in the 1991 film, “The Shepherd and the Women”, directed by her ex-husband, Ali Badrakhan.

It is worth noting that Sharm El-Sheikh Asian Film Festival (SAFF) is a nonprofit cultural event organized by Noon Foundation for Culture and Arts, held in the charming city of Sharm El-Sheik, with the contribution of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and South Sinai Governorate.

The festival is an annual competition for film makers and films and a pioneer in introducing Asian cinema to the Arab world.

SAFF 2019 aims at introducing the best of the current independent films from Asian countries and providing an influential platform for Asian cinema in the region.

Sharm El-Sheikh Asian Film Festival will feature a number of interesting events, including gala events, open-air screenings, workshops, and seminars, all with celebrity attendees showcasing a truly unique mix of Arab and Asian cultures.