Mohamed Hefzy: I dedicate this edition to the veteran artists we lost this year

CAIRO - 11 December 2020: The 42nd edition of Cairo International Film Festival concluded its events on December 10.

Head of Cairo International Film Festival Mohamed Hefzy starter his speech by thanking the ministry of culture, minister of culture Inas Abdel Dayem, the higher committee of the festival and the ministry of health for their contribution in this edition.

“We reported zero corona cases in this edition from the festival” Hefzy said.

Hefzy added that all the festival management exerted their maximum effort and were not afraid of COVID-19.

“ We lost a lot of veteran artists this year such as Mahmoud Yassin, Ragaa el Gedawy, Ibrahim Nasr, Shwikar, El Montasser Bellah and Hassan Hosny, I dedicate this edition to these great artists” Hefzy said.

CIFF head thanked the 220 employees who work in the Festival.

Hefzy thanked the festival executive manager Omar Kassem, head of Cairo Industry Days Alyaa Zaki, head of Cairo Film Connection  Mariam Degeidy, the festival sponsors and Tazkarti staff.

Hefzy congratulated all the winners and said that all the films tickets were sold out because people miss watching movies.

“2020 will be remembered as the year of the pandemic but also it is a year of the determination. I was lucky to work with people who are aimed to cope with the virus and the restrictions it puts on us” Hefzy added.

Above 30 thousand tickets were sold this year despite the ongoing restrictions that limit the filmgoers to attend films.

In addition to this, the festival featured an exhibition, as well as several masterclasses and lectures bringing a professional and educational side to the festival.

“More than 30 thousand tickets at this time is a success. I thank all the audience and the staff of the festival,” Hefzy said and extended his thanks to the censorship committee who watched and allowed all the films to be screened.