Registration is open for 21th version (2019)
Egypt, Cairo | Thursday - 20 September, 2018:
The 21st round of Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts (April 10-16) kicked off on Wednesday evening at Ismailia cultural palace. Culture Minister Inas Abdel Daiem, Ismailia Governor Hamdy Othman, Head of National Council of Cinema Khaled Abdel Geliel, festival's President Essam Zakaria and Head of Suez Canal Authority Mohab Mamish inaugurated the festival.
The ceremony started with the national anthem then Arab Idol star Yehia Yacoub chanted a song titled "Peace Message from Sinai" written by Ahmed Hassan, composed by Karim Arafa and conducted by Ayman Tounsi. The opening also included a ballet performance directed by Magdy Saber.
Star Samir Sabry presented the ceremony, saying that he attended the festival's 1st round in which only 10 films were screened. He added that the festival was supported by minister Othman Ahmed Othman and the then Ismailia governor Abdel Moneim Omara.
He added: Then, there were no film theaters in Ismailia, so we screened the films in the social club of the governorate in which stars Shadia, Lebleba and Nagwa Fouad presented the opening. He also noted that the festival's revenues were allocated to an orphanage in Ismailia governorate.
Sabry said he is happy to attend the festival and thanked head of Suez Canal Authority, culture minister and Ismailia governor.
Sabry welcomed the guests, organizers, heads of the festival including film critic Essam Zakaria and advisor of culture minister for cinema affairs Khaled Abdel Geliel.
Meanwhile, Zakaria said 150 films from 51 countries in four competitions will be screened in the festival.
He added that the festival will witness two juries instead of one especially that more films will be screened in this round.
He thanked culture minister, head of Suez Canal authority, Ismailia governor and head of National Center for Cinema over their efforts to organize the festival.
He also welcomed the jury members including Egyptian director Youssry Nassrallah, Canadian Chris McDonald, Syrian actress Sulaf Fawakherji, Pedro Pimenta fro Mozambique, Chinese Cherelle Zheng, French director Marilyne Canto, South African Catherine Meyburgh, Egyptian director Mohamed Hamad, Greek Anstasia Dimitra, Emirati Nawaf Janahi.
Abdel Geleil thanked culture minister over her great efforts. He also thanked Mohab Mamish and Hamdy Othman over their great support to the festival. He also thanked head of Cinema Professions Syndicate, producer Hisham Abdel Khalik and head of Artistic Syndicates Union.
Abdel Geleil also promised that the next round of the festival will celebrate the inauguration of Suez Canal.
Governor Hamdy Othman welcomed the festival's guests, adding that the festival is considered an important cultural event because of its message that it sends to the whole world. He added that he is keen on turning Ismailia to a pioneering hub for all the peoples and cultures of the world.
Culture minister thanked Ismailia governor over his support to the cultural events in Ismailia governorate. She hailed the festival that is celebrating two important cultural events this year including Egypt's presidency over the African Union and the Egyptian-French cultural year in which the festival's administration was keen to organize two programs to celebrate the events. Abdel Daiem thanked Abdel Geleil and Zakaria over their great efforts.
During the ceremony, cinematographer Said Shiimi, Lebanese director Borhane Alaouié, director Mweze Ngangura from Congo and Egyptian director Attiat Abnoudy were honored.
The opening also witnessed the screening of documentary "we are not Princesses" that tackles the lives of a number of Syrian female refugees in Lebanon who are making a play in which it reflects their ability to surpass all obstacles facing them due to the Syrian civil war.