The 2nd Arabic Film Festival in Rotterdam which will be held between May 2-8, 2002 adopts a special concept for the Arabic film as a film produced by an Arab whether inside or outside the Arab world.
The festival will honor the Egyptian actor Yahya al Fakhrani and will screen the films Asrar al Banat (Girls’ Secrets), Ayyam al Sadat (Sadat Days), Sukout Hansawwar (Quiet, We Will Shoot), Muwaten Wa Mukhber Wa Harami (Citizen, Detective and Thief), al Saher (Magician), al Naamah Wa al Taous (Ostrich and Peacock), Bahibb al Sima (I Like Cinema) and Dail al Samakah (Fish Tail).
These films will run into the competition for financial prizes in addition to the golden, silver and bronze awards. Also a large crowd will attend the screening of selected films from Arab countries.
During his visit to Cairo to implement twining between his festival and Alexandria International Film festival, the head of Rotterdam festival, Khaled Shawkat told the UAE daily al Bayan, “this festival is considered the second environment for the Arabic cinema outside the Arab world. In its previous session it screened about 70 films from 12 Arab states and six countries in which Arab communities live. Among the most prominent of these films was a panorama on the Palestinian issue which included a number of films directed by renowned Europeans known with their advocacy for the Palestinian rights.”
He pointed out, “the festival is a non-governmental organization, which is registered and supported by governmental and non-governmental Dutch agencies and establishments. It is managed by staff of Arab origin whose willingness gathered them to participate in the campaign for improving the Arab image in the west and spreading the Arab cultural and civilization products in Holland in particular and the European Union in general.” -- Albawaba.com
