EGYPT: U.S. actors Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn attend 32nd Cairo International Film Festival

Record ID: 723647

  • Title: EGYPT: U.S. actors Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn attend 32nd Cairo International Film Festival
  • Date: 20th November 2008
  • Summary: AMERICAN ACTORS GOLDIE HAWN AND KURT RUSSELL WAVING TO CAMERAS ON RED CARPET
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Reuters ID: LVAEY0SVO98J9I7XWMUIKZCS695H
  • Story Text: Film stars from around the world attend the gala opening of the Cairo International Film Festival.
    Stars of the silver screen from around the world walked the red carpet in Cairo on Tuesday (November 18) at the opening of the 32nd annual Cairo International Film Festival, which was dedicated to the late Egyptian director Youssef Chahine.
    Chahine, who died in July of this year, directing such well known films as Cairo: 'Central Station' and 'The Emigrant'.
    The Cairo festival has often been overshadowed by other festivals in the region, notably Dubai film festival, but this year the organizers managed to attract their fair share of foreign talent, with Hollywood stars like Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon and Charlize Theron in attendance.
    The Spanish film "Return to Hansala", which focuses on the plight of North African migrants to Europe, opened this year's festival, at which Spanish films are being honoured in particular. Twenty other Spanish films are being screened in total at this year's festival.
    Films from 50 countries are competing for festival prizes. Eighteen films have entered the competition for the main prize. There are separate competitions for Arab and African films, as well as special sections for films about Human Rights and digital films.
    Russell, Hawn Sarandon and British actress Julia Ormond are to receive special honours along with five Egyptian filmmakers.
    Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday (November 19), Russell, best known for the classic action movie 'Escape from New York' and more recent films like 'Posieden', said it was a special treat for him to take part in a festival with Egyptian screen legend Omar Sharif, this year's honorary festival president.

    "We have done these things before, but I've never been at one that Omar Sharif was at, so they all pale in comparison, Russell said.
    Russell also said he had been moved by his experience seeing the wonders of ancient Egypt.

    "It's really incredible to come, you know, from our culture into this culture which is seemingly so different from ours, but then when you go see the pyramids and you tour the tombs and you have the chance to see the hieroglyphics explained to you with an archaeologist you realize just how much of all civilizations come from the ancient Egyptian civilization," he said.
    Russell's wife, Goldie Hawn, who is best known for 80s comedies like 'Protocol' and 'Private Benjamin', said that she had enjoyed the previous night's gala premiere. "It's the chaos, it's the stuff that you don't know that's going to happen that makes it fun, at least for me. I like things to happen spontaneously. And you know when things don't work, it's fun, when they do work, it's fun. When they work all the time, it's boring. So I prefer a little chaos," she said.
    This year's festival runs for 10 days and will end with the awards ceremony on the November 28.
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