SITFY chooses Mahmoud Gamal to deliver speech on World Theater Day

CAIRO: 26 March 2020: Sharm El-Sheikh International Theater Festival for Youth chose Egyptian young artist and playwright Mahmoud Gamal, better known as Mahmoud Hedini, to deliver a speech on the World Theatre Day.

The festival's newly established tradition aims at allowing a different, theatrically active and influential young artist each year to deliver their message on the World Theatre Day.

The festival’s administration will translate the message into more than one language. The message will be broadcast in audio and video annually on the World Theater Day.

SITFY postponed its fifth edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have exerted extensive efforts to launch the fifth edition of SITFY and finished all the preparations. We have contacted all the theatrical groups; however, the spread of coronavirus all over the world is the main reason behind the postponement of the fifth edition of SITFY. Thanks a million for your understanding. We hope to be back on track as soon as possible in order to continue our work with all the theatrical groups and experts. SITFY's Higher Committee highly appreciates each and every one who has accomplished his/her duties to the fullest," SITFY's President Mazen el-Gharabawy declared.

The fifth edition of SITFY was planned to bear the name of legendary actress Sanaa Gamil. Moreover, SITFY planned to dedicate the authorship Award to late professor and writer Ahmed Sakhsoukh, who presented various theatrical and critical writings to the Egyptian and Arab theatre.

Egyptian veteran actress, Samiha Ayoub, has been appointed as the honorary president of SITFY, while veteran actor Mohamed Sobhy was appointed as head of the higher committee of SITFY, and Egyptian actor Tarek Sabri was appointed as the executive director. SITFY is managed by Ingy el-Bestawy and actor Mohsen Mansour supervises the festival's workshops.

SITFY is held under the sponsorship of the minister of culture, South Sinai governor, Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Tourism Khaled al-Anany, and Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board Ahmed Youssef.

Additional reporting by Angy Essam