This year's Cairo International Film Festival kicked off yesterday with the screening of the Egyptian movie "Ma'ali Al Wazir" (His Excellency the Minister) competing along with 21 movies for the festival's International award, according to the Egyptian daily, Al Ahram.
The movie, starring Ahmed Zaki, Lebleba and Hashim Abdul Hamid, depicts the biography of a minister reviewing his sudden ascendancy and his clenching to the office, until he is haunted with successive nightmares to the degree that it is reflected on all his deeds and conducts.
Scheduled for October 15 through 25, the festival will honor several foreign and Egyptian producers, directors and actors. British Oscar-winner Vanessa Redgrave will be one of the international figures to be honored at the festival for her dedication to the acting world, since 1957. The Ivory-Merchant Productions will also be honored for excellence in film production at the Festival.
"The main focus of this year's festival will be to provide a market-place opportunity, as well as a discussion forum, on the great potential and the challenges confronting the movie industry in the South", said Mr. Sherief Al Soubashy, the new president of the festival.
Michael Cacoyannis, writer and director of "Zorba the Greek", will be receiving a Life Achievement award on his 80th birthday, which he will celebrate in Cairo. Cacoyannis, shot his first movie "Windfall in Athens" (1953) at Nahas Films studios in Cairo. – Albawaba.com
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