Billy Zane: This honour means the world to me because you are the world

CAIRO – 27 November 2019: The 41st edition of Cairo International Film Festival granted famed American actor Billy Zane Special Tribute Award on Wednesday, November 26.

‘’Your hospitality is match with your kindness and cuisine, this honour means the world to me, because you are the world’’ Zane said at the beginning of his speech after receiving the award.

The famed American actor added that Egypt civilization along with the Greek one were the birthplace of innovation.

‘’ Something that is very dear to me as you will soon read and watch in the numerous interviews I have done with the variety of diverse members of the national and international press during my brief stay’’ Zane added.

Zane admitted that Egypt contribution to cinema is incomparable for the region and beyond. ‘’ Your landscapes have changed cinema forever, with the advent of wide screen cinema scope and lenses employed as the only means to capture beauty, I hope to one day film in front of these landscapes with your talented filmmakers and actors, I would like to thank Mohamed Hefzy, Ahmed Shawky and the Cairo International Film Festival, for this great honour, truly it stands as one of the most memorable experiences of my life’’ Zane said at the end of his speech.

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, Terry Gilliam, 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 housed a lot of surprises, seminars, panels and workshops executed by its creative filmmaker Mohamed Hefzy, acting artistic director Ahmed Shawky and its executive director Omar Kassem.

This edition honoured renowned Egyptian filmmakers Sherif Arafa at the festival opening ceremony.

The visionary and Legendary director, screenwriter, actor and animator, Terry Gilliam was honoured as well with a Faten Hamama Award.

Gilliam received the accolade during the opening ceremony of the festival at the Cairo Opera House.

“The Irishman” was the festival opening movie.Mexico was chosen to be the country in focus of this edition.

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.

The festival prepared screened a documentary about Rizakallah entitled ‘’ Rizk el Cinema’’ to honour his long fruitful cinematic career that enriched Egyptian cinema.

DMC channels sponsors Cairo International Film Festival's 41st edition. DMC broadcast provides its audience with daily messages of the festival.

President of DMC channels Hisham Soliman explained that the channel has introduced new coverage methods to convey the real atmosphere of the festival’s events from inside the cinemas. The channel presents a diversified program of the festival's events and highlights daily events through news broadcast on the screen and on social media platforms.

During the period from Nov. 21 to 26, the festival held the second edition of Cairo Industry Days, which provided professionals with opportunities for partnership and networking with the international film community, in addition to attending seminars, workshops and discussion panels.

Valuable prizes was awarded to winning film projects in the development and post-production stages, which are valued up at $200,000. Mexico was chosen to be the country in focus of this edition.