Gilliam: I only present the movies I strongly believe in

CAIRO – 22 November 2019: Cairo International Film Festival organised a seminar for the visionary and legendary director, screenwriter, actor and animator, Terry Gilliam on Friday, November 22.

The seminar main them was ‘’ Finding your voice across different mediums in conversation with Terry Gilliam.’’

The seminar was moderated by famed Egyptian director Amr Salama. At the beginning of the seminar Salama said that he is extremely happy to sit with a veteran filmmaker like Gilliam.

Gilliam said during the seminar that he doesn’t present any story unless he is obsessed with, revealing that he didn’t present any movie he doesn’t strongly believes in, for the sake of money.

Gilliam added that he was lucky because he presented through his movies all what he believes in.
‘’ When I finish the movie, I feel I did all what I planned to do’’ Gilliam said.
The veteran filmmaker added that he is committed to the movie message, pointing out that he prefers to give the actors he is working with different ideas as suggestions to help them perform their roles.

‘’ We change a lot of things in the plan after we start shooting, the script is completely different when it comes out to the audience in its final version, we change it to fit other things that may appear during shooting time’’ Gilliam said.

Gilliam explained that he prefers to work with box office stars, because they protect the movie from the producer interference, revealing that he prefers the actor/actress who has high sense of humor.

He explained that when he was working with the American actor Jeff Bridges, his manager prevented Gilliam from solving one of the film problems with the producer and said ‘’ Let the actor solve this problem and he managed to solve it.’’

Gilliam revealed that he can’t describe Cairo or understand it as a city full of buildings, but at the same time he loves its people because they laugh a lot and full of energy.

Gilliam pointed out that he doesn’t prefer to choose from his work one to be the best, adding that the majority see ‘’ Brazil’’ as his best movie, but despite his love to this movie, he can’t prefer a movie over the other.

The acclaimed filmmaker admitted that directors are not successful in their marriages despite this fact he managed to keep his marriage for 46 years.

Gilliam revealed that the debut of his career was through cartoon movies. ‘’ Cartoon movies are great they can change the world’’ Gilliam said.

Gilliam received the Faten Hamama Excellence Award from Cairo International Film Festival head Mohamed Hefzy at the festival opening ceremony that took place on November 20.

Gilliam expressed his happiness with the award revealing that when he first knew about the award he felt it is is still too early because he feels himself young but when he looked at the mirror he discovered that he grew old.

Gilliam said that Cairo is a city full of energy and that filmmaking is a magical thing despite the fact that it is very tiring and requires much effort.


Film industry heavyweights made it down to the red carpet at Cairo International Film Festival which kicked off on November 20.

Among the celebrities who attended the festival Mona Zaki, Ahmed Helmy, Ahmed Dawoud, Yousra, Khaled Selim, Laila Elwi, Bushra, Hend Sabry, Ola Roushdy, Hussein Fahmy, Nour, Shereen Reda, Lekaa el Khamesi, Rogena, Nadia el Gendy, Menna Shalaby, Sherif Arafa,among others.

Famed Egyptian stars Khaled el Sawy, Dina el Sherbiny and Ahmed Dawoud hosted the opening ceremony of the 41st edition of Cairo International Film Festival.


The 41st edition of Cairo International Film Festival will last till November 29. This edition is expected to hold a lot of surprises executed by its creative filmmaker Mohamed Hefzy and its executive director Omar Kassem.

This edition honoured renowned Egyptian filmmakers Sherif Arafa and Menna Shalaby with Faten Hamama Excellence Award.


“The Irishman” was the festival opening movie.
Cairo International Film Festival becomes the first Arab festival and second African to sign the Gender Parity Pledge 5050×2020, joining this commitment launched during Cannes Film Festival in 2018.


The festival is committed to promote gender equality and transparency, during its 42nd edition in November 2020.

Egyptian star Sherine Reda is a jury member in Best Arab Film Award, famed Egyptian actress Hanan Motawie is a jury member in Cinema of Tomorrow jury and Egyptian Hearthrob actress Hana Shiha is a jury member in Horizons of Arab Cinema Competition.

The 41st edition of Cairo International Film Festival is dedicated to the festival artistic director the late great film critic Youssef Sherif Rizakallah.