- Title: EGYPT: The 17th annual Documentary and Shorts film festival kicks off in Ismailia
- Date: 5th June 2014
- Summary: ISMAILIA, EGYPT (JUNE 3, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ISMAILIA CULTURE PALACE WHERE FILM FESTIVAL WAS HELD CHILDREN WALKING IN CONFERENCE HALL CHILDREN PERFORMING DANCE BANNER READING IN ARABIC AND ENGLISH: "17th ISMAILIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOR DOCUMENTARIES AND SHORTS" EXTERIOR OF HALL WHERE AWARDS SHOW WAS HELD VARIOUS OF AWARD WINNERS RECEIVING AWARD ON STAGE FROM EGYPTIAN MINISTER OF CULTURE CROWD WATCHING AWARD SHOW (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL CINEMA CENTRE, KAMAL ABDEL AZIZ, SAYING: "There are exceptional films that are chosen carefully by the viewing committee. We have forty eight films and thirteen films outside the competition." AWARD WINNERS TAKING PHOTOGRAPH SCREEN SHOWING NOMINEE FOR BEST FILM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN DIRECTOR OF PARTICIPATING FILM "JEWS OF EGYPT", AMIR RAMSIS, SAYING: "My film for tonight is called 'About the Jews of Egypt: the End of a Journey'. It is the sequel to last year's film called 'Jews of Egypt' that I presented last year. Simply, it is talking about the time when Egyptians were sharing equal rights and duties and harmoniously living together away from racial or religious discrimination. Being part of the festival came after the administration of the film festival asked for it to join. They had seen the working copy. I was persisting that the premier be in Egypt - I prefer my films are seen first in Egypt before being seen by audiences abroad."
- Embargoed: 20th June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Reuters ID: LVA4NKTXKY0MONELJISOGD4B23PA
- Story Text: Forty eight international films compete in the 17th annual Ismailia film festival that is currently underway for four days in Ismailia, a city lying on the west bank of the Suez Canal.
The Ismailia Culture Palace saw the start of the film festival with prominent figures present and dancing celebrations to mark the opening.
The Director of the National Cinema Centre, Kamal Abdel Aziz, said the exceptionality of this festival is due to several factors.
"There are exceptional films that are chosen carefully by the viewing committee. We have forty eight films and thirteen films outside the competition."
The first prize winner for this festival will win US$3,000 while the second prize winner will win US$2,000 and four categories will be assessed.
With Long Documentary Films Competition, Short Documentary Films Competition, Short Feature Films Competition and and Animation Films, a total of 34 films will be competing.
Controversy surrounded the festival when Syrian Director Mohamed Malas, the festival's Jury President, was denied an entry visa to Egypt.
The festival president, Mohamed Hefzy, expressed his sadness over the decision and "stressed that despite his absence, Malas is still presiding the festival's jury, which will do the job on his behalf and that a special tribute will be paid to him by screening two of his most remarkable works" as per the official website for the competition.
The festival's jury list for the Documentary Competitions is headed by Malas and includes Greek Director Dimitris Koutsiabasakos, Egyptian Director and Producer Wael Omar, Egyptian Director Hala Lotfy and the French Producer Marianne Lere.
As part of the Special Screenings program, the festival will showcase the rarely-seen documentary The Eighth Wonder, which tracks the epic transfer of Abu Simbel temples to rescue them from being flooded during the construction of the High Dam.
The sequel for the documentary, Jews of Egypt, The End of a Journey, will also premier at the film festival. The film's director Amir Ramsis said he persisted on premiering the film in Egypt.
"My film for tonight is called 'About the Jews of Egypt: the End of a Journey'. It is the sequel to last year's film called 'Jews of Egypt' that I presented last year. Simply, it is talking about the time when Egyptians were sharing equal rights and duties and harmoniously living together away from racial or religious discrimination. Being part of the festival came after the administration of the film festival asked for it to join. They had seen the working copy. I was persisting that the premier be in Egypt - I prefer my films are seen first in Egypt before being seen by audiences abroad," Ramsis said.
The festival, launched in 1988, is coordinated by Egypt's Ministry of Culture and is one of the first to be dedicated to documentaries and shorts in the Middle East.
The festivalSunday (June 8). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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