Sanaa Gamil in “The Second Wife” - Capture photo
CAIRO - 18 February 2020: The management of Sharm El-Sheikh International Theater Festival for Youth headed by Mazen el-Gharabawy decided to launch the festival’s fifth edition bearing the name of the late iconic actress Sanaa Gamil.
"Gamil’s choice was made by the high committee of the festival because she is an exceptional figure of the Arab theater," explained Gharabawy. The head of the festival further stated that Gamil presented countless successful theatrical works, and that she deserves to be honored and celebrated.
Furthermore, Gharabawy said that it is important for the new generations in Egypt and the Arab world to know the value of this great artist who gave so much to her art.
The festival will hold a symposium focusing on the late actress in the presence of pioneering theatrical performers, including veteran actress Samiha Ayoub, Gameel’s life-time friend and companion.
Head of the festival's high committee Mohamed Sobhy will unveil Sanaa Gamil's artistic secrets, and will clarify details about their theatrical experience “The Visit of the Old Lady” directed by Sobhy.
Director of the festival Anjy el-Bastawi said that a Gamil will be celebrated as an international figure because she presented very important global works, including the play “Strindberg” under the title “Dance of Death” in the French language.
Sanaa Gamil’s real name is Soraya Youssef Attallah. She was born in Mallawi in Minya Governorate on April 27, 1930. She is from a Coptic Egyptian family in Upper Egypt. She entered the artistic field through Zaki Tulaimat, who asked her to join the High Institute for Performing Arts.
The movie “Bedaya Wa Nehaya” (A Beginning and an End) brought Gamil great fame. The film was based on a story by Naguib Mahfouz and was directed by Salah Abu Seif, who also directed the film “El Zouga el-Tanya” (The Second Wife), where Gamil played Hafiza.
Gamil also brilliantly embodied the character, Soumia, who was the first martyr in Islam in the film "Al-Resala", directed by Mustafa el-Akkad. The late iconic actress only cooperated once with international director Youssef Shaheen in the film “Dawn of A New Day”.
It is noteworthy that the honorary president of Sharm El-Sheikh International Theater Festival for Youth is veteran actress Samiha Ayoub and the Chairman of the Supreme Committee of the festival is the iconic actor Mohamed Sobhy. The festival is managed by Angy el-Bastawi.
The festival will be held under the patronage of Minister of Culture Inas Abdel Dayem, South Sinai Governor Khaled Fouda, Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Tourism Rania al -Mashat and the Tourism Promotion Authority Head Ahmed Youssef and Head of the Domestic Tourism Sector Ola Gamal el Din.
The Sharm El-Sheikh International Theater Festival for Youth will run from April 1-7 and will dedicate the Authorship Award to late professor and writer Ahmed Saksoukh, who gave the Egyptian and Arab theater many enriching theatrical and critical writings.
Eighty theatrical performances were chosen to participate in the fifth edition. Some 350 shows initially submitted and were viewed and filtered by the viewing committee to reach 80 shows from foreign and Arab countries.
A total of 36 Egyptian performances were chosen to compete in three competitions in the festival’s fifth edition.
The festival's viewing committee is currently working to choose the final list of participating shows. The viewing committee members include director Karima Bedeir, artist Tarik Sabry, director Sameh Mujahid, Yasser Alam and Mahmoud Sabry.
The fifth Sharm El-Sheikh International Theater Festival for Youth will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh and its honorary president is veteran actress Samiha Ayoub.
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