The 44th Cairo International Film Festival had its opening ceremony on November 13th in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House. Present for the ceremony were the Egyptian Minister of Culture, Dr. Nevine Al-Kilani, CIFF’s chairman (President), Hussein Fahmy, CIFF’s director, Amir Ramses, and a number of filmmakers, stars, industry, and media professionals.
Jasmine Taha Zaki kicked off the event by presenting the official festival poster. You can look up the lovely poster should you wish to see it. Or you can read the description of it my colleague provided along with her festival preview.
Hussein Fahmy spoke of the important role of the festival for film lovers and his joy to oversee the festival as the new President. The ceremony recognized Samir Sabri, and in addition to video clips of the performer’s songs, Fahmy also spoke of his memories of the late artist. Fahmy, of course, also acknowledged the sponsors of this year’s festival.
Dr. Nevine Al-Kilani joined Fahmy on stage to officially inaugurated the 44th edition of the festival.
The ceremony honoured Kamla Abu Zekri, with actress Nelly Karim who starred in her work, presenting Abu Zekri with the Faten Hamama Excellence Award. Abu Zekri thanked everyone that supported her career and said that being on the CIFF stage to be honoured, was one of her lifetime dreams.
Next, they played a short film about Hungarian filmmaker “Béla Tarr” providing insight into his life. In Tarr’s remarks, he referred to the CIFF as the most prestigious film festival in the Middle East.
Hussein Fahmy returned to the stage to honour Lebleba with the “Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement Award.” He expressed that she is one of the actors that has been able to make great varied work since childhood that has been “carved in the minds of fans.” Like Abu Kekri it was Lebleba’s dream to be honoured at CIFF. Though for Lebleba the dream stems because of her mother’s wish she would win a prize at the CIFF. She made her mother proud, and on her birthday, no less.
Although the festival was physical last year, the lingering presence of the pandemic was still felt in statements from people like the Jury head, director Naomi Kawase. Kawase, while expressing her pleasure in taking part in the 44th CIFF, brought up their success in “overcoming the era of isolation and disconnection.” Films are all about connection so it is an understandable sentiment.
Once the opening ceremony concluded, the festival began with the opening night film. Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans. The Fabelmans has been doing the festival circuit since its world premiere at TIFF where it won the People’s Choice Award. It has just been released limitedly in theatres in North America and will go wide later this month. Films that center on film always feel best viewed at a festival, where the audience is comprised of cinema lovers. So, it is a perfect selection to open a festival.
For more on the festival, look to our festival preview, and keep your eyes open for reviews from the festival.
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