Hajjaj Salama

The screenings and activities of the 13th edition of the Luxor African Film Festival continue in the historic city of Luxor, Upper Egypt. This year's festival features delegations from 34 Arab, African, and European countries. Screenwriter Sayed Fouad, president and founder of the festival, told "Ahwal Al-Marifa" that the festival is celebrating through its screenings and activities the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the film industry in Mali, which was chosen as the guest of honor for this edition. He added that 350 films were submitted, and the screening committee selected 42 films to be shown within the official competitions, which include a competition for student films, a competition for Diaspora films, in addition to narrative and documentary competitions.

Fouad indicated that the festival chose to honor Egyptian director Khairy Beshara, Senegalese director Safi Faye, Moroccan critic Nour-Eddine Sail, critic Raouf Tawfik, and artist Tariq Abdel Aziz. It also celebrates the centenary of the great artist Fouad El Mohandes, one of the most important figures of comedy in cinema. Honors also include Egyptian actor Hassan El Raddad, actress Amy Samir Ghanem, producer Gaby Khoury, and Moroccan director Hassan Benjelloun. A number of actors from Khairy Beshara's films will be honored, including Ahmed Abdel Aziz, Tayseer Fahmy, and Sahar Rami, along with the names of the late Ezzat Abu Ouf, Sami El Adl, and Hussein El Imam. The festival has also formed a twinning agreement with the Khouribga Festival and is screening films by several prominent Moroccan directors. The 13th edition of the Luxor African Film Festival, held from February 9 to 15, features the participation of more than 220 filmmakers from Egypt, Africa, and Europe, along with screenings of 42 films including long and short narrative and documentary features.