LAFF honors Hussein Fahmy, Amr Saad, Férid Boughedir, and Apolline Traoré and dedicates its edition to Huda Sultan, Mahmoud Moursy, and Moroccan Mohamed Ismail in Jibril Jibril mambety's Edition
35 countries take part in Djibril Mambéty’s edition… 45 films participate in four competitions
The juries include: Jimmy-Jean Louis, Rachid Mashharawi, Doura Bouchoucha, Ghalia Ben Ali, and Moussa Touré
??Hussein Fahmy : the festival should be highlighted among the festivals map
??Mahmoud Hemida : I demand having a major sponsor for the LAFF for its great significance
??Sayed Fouad : We face multiple obstacles each year so that the festival appears in an appropriate way, highlighting the importance of the name of Egypt
??Azza Elhosseiny : We present the “Factory Initiative" to develop and support long documentaries’ projects for the first time
??Amani Al-Taweel: Cinema is regarded as one of the mechanisms of politics and the festival has a great influence in Africa.
Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) held a press conference on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 to announce the details of the eleventh edition, scheduled to take place between 4 and 10 March, 2022. The attendees include: Mahmoud Hemida (LAFF’s Honorary President), scriptwriter Sayed Fouad (LAFF’s Founder and Chairman), and Azza El-Husseini (LAFF’s founder and executive Director). Journalist Gamal Abdel Nasser (Head of the Media Center) organized the proceedings of the conference.
The attendees of the conference included members of LAFF’s Higher Committee and stars: Dr. Amani Al-Taweel, Sabry Fawwaz, star Hussein Fahmy, actor Mohey Ismail, Director Magdi Ahmed Ali, actor Ahmed Magdi, actress Heba Abdel Ghany, director Amir Ramses, critic Ahmed Shawky, and a large number of media outlets.
The conference started with a speech by LAFF’s Honorary President, Mahmoud Hemida: “I’m really glad with Luxor Festival, for I believe in its significance. It faces multiple obstacles and all parties with whom it deals does not understand its importance. Therefore, I demand a change in the concept of “sponsorship”. I hope that everyone who supports the festival will change their point of view about it. In other words, all parties should be “winners”, apart from the perspective of social solidarity. The festival should have a major sponsor with a contract of no less than 20 years. I refer to the significance of the festival in the African continent. I hope that all members of the festival will understand its true significance; we are always working on sustainable development in our country”.
Furthermore, Hemida announced the jury of the long narratives’ competition: director Moussa Touré (Senegal), director Yousry Nasrallah (Egypt), director Apolline Traoré (Burkina Faso), critic Kamal Ben Wanas (Tunisia), and actor Jimmy Jean-Louis (Haiti). 10 films participate in that competition: “2 Midan Talaat Harb” (Egypt) by Magdi Ahmed Ali, “Habiba” (Morocco) by Hassan Ben Galoon, “Zawjat Haffar Al-Qobour” (Somalia) by Khadar Ahmed, “Al-Itifak” (Cameroon) by Lia Malli and Franck Thierry, “Arjou” (Algeria) by Omar Qasim, “Masoud” (Burkina Faso) by Emmanuel Rotobam, “Ibta’id” (Nigeria) by Stanley Oqouhwari, “Maria Cristo” (Zambia) by Paul S. Willow, “Tawalt Ifriqia Al-A’am” (Ghana) by Coffy Ofoso Yeboa, and “Mashia Le Jahanam” (Tunisia) by Asmahan Lahmar.
In his speech, LAFF’s founder and chairman, scriptwriter Sayed Fouad states: “we started a new decade for Luxor Festival. Azza and me thought of the main concept. We imagined the portrait of the first scene of the festival and we did not know what could happen next. We started working and the days -and editions- followed after. When we offered star Mahmoud Hemida the position of LAFF’s Honorary President, he was afraid that there would be no actual work. However, he was excited and fully supported the festival. Hemida noted today that the festival should have a major sponsor and that’s really important, for we face multiple obstacles each year so that the festival appears in an appropriate way, highlighting the importance of the name of Egypt.
Moreover, Fouad announced holding a symposium within the framework of “Rediscovering Egypt”, tackling the ways of supporting and facilitating foreign photography in Egypt. Additionally, Fouad announced holding other symposiums celebrating the centenary of Tutankhamun’s discovery and the 200th anniversary of the deciphering of the Rosetta Stone. Furthermore, Fouad highlighted the jury of long documentaries’ competition: director Katie Needy (Senegal), critic Phoebe Curry (Uganda), director of photography Mahmoud Abd El-Samie (Egypt), director Mohamed Seyam (Egypt), and director Peter Sedovia (Ghana).
11 films take part in that competition: “Najmt Al-Sabbah” (Madagascar) by director Nantanina Lova, “Kelab Al-Akeed Al-Dalah” (South Africa - Libya) by Khaled Shams, “Makan Yusama Wahala” (Togo) by Jurgin Allingus, “Faya Daye” (Ethiopia) by Jessica Bashir, “Kasongo” (Congo) by George Senga, “Ya’khouz Al-Nemaa Shakhs” (South Africa) by Mr. and Mrs. Landoy Machkezi, “Al-Thahab Wa Mal” (Mali) by Eric Revo, “Al-Malga’a Al-Akhir” (Mali) by Osmane Smaseko, “Shokhous Alamna Al-Tahty” (Egypt) by Haitham Sherif, “Al-Alikat” (Morocco) by Myriam, and “Al-Osoud Al-Awagez” (Egypt) by Ibrahim Abbas.
Moreover, LAFF’s Director, and co founder Azza Elhosseiny noted launching the “Factory” project to develop and support long documentaries’ projects for young female directors from Africa and the Middle East. LAFF signed a protocol with “Dox Box”, a non-profit organization specialized in documentary films in Germany, under the supervision of Jihan El-Tahri. Furthermore, Elhosseiny announced tackling the UNESCO report on African film industry, which will be translated and presented in an Arabic version through LAFF,next year.
Elhosseiny announced launching (Rediscovering Egypt) competition. Its hashtag will be released today after the press conference, to choose the best three videos showing the marvelous landscapes of Egypt and inviting them to participate in the eleventh edition of LAFF. Star Mahmoud Hemida -LAFF’s Honorary President- indicates fully supporting that competition.
Dr. Amani El-Taweel -expert on African affairs and LAFF’s Higher Committee member- states: cinema is regarded as one of the mechanisms of politics. Luxor Festival achieves what President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi announced. His excellency stated that 2022 is the year dedicated to civil society organizations. Thus, Luxor Festival is regarded as a civil society institution that focuses on all artistic, cultural, and social needs. LAFF is concerned with all these crucial pillars that contribute to improving social life.
Actor Sabry Fawwaz tackled his memories during the first edition. Fawwaz is one of the festival’s founders and a member of the Higher Committee. Fawwaz mentioned the audience’s feedback on the festival which achieved success in Africa. He emphasizes that LAFF is crucial in terms of tourism, art, and culture.
Fawwaz announced the jury of the short films’ competition: director Khaled Al-Haggar (Egypt), director Fatomato Coulibaly (Mali), critic Ahmed Shawqy, director Daoud Wilad Al-Sayed (Morocco), and actress Ghalia Ben Ali (Tunisia). 15 films take part in this competition: “Azma Qalbia” (South Africa) by Menhli Luthuli, “16 Jawla” (Uganda) by Usama Mukawya, “Nesf Rouh” (Tunisia) by Marwan Traboulsi, “Ma’a Al- Salama Damar” (Ghana) by David Edem Ditib, “Minizi” (Togo) by Elizabeth Blackung Limo, “Khayt Rafie” (Morocco) by Wegdan Khaled, “Balat Al-Malek” (Gabon) by Amimdeh Bakum Ncolo, “Ayna Ana” (Angola) by Dennis Mayala, “Baby Bloz” (Senegal - France) by Diop Mamamdou, “Nakon Izaman” (Rwanda) by Denis Valerie Ndayishimi, “Batoul” (Egypt) by Mohamed Zahran, “Odteen Wa Salah” (Egypt) by Mina Maher, “Ganaza Harrah” (Egypt) by Mohamed Mahmoud, “Al-Wosoul Mota’akhir” (Egypt) by Duha Hamdi, and “Khareta” (Egypt) by Maggi Mourgan.
Gamal Abdel Nasser, the presenter of the conference, asked star Hussein Fahmy -Lifetime Achievement Award winner- to deliver a speech: “this festival should be highlighted among the festivals’ map, for Luxor is one of a kind on the level of humanity. I hope that LAFF would succeed, for it really deserves all the best”.
Director Magdi Ahmed Ali states: “there is no succession to leadership. We are glad with all the developments. However, the concepts of leadership, culture, and sponsorship must turn into reality. Basically, I’m glad to participate in LAFF through “2 Talaat Harb” as a world premiere and I’m waiting for the feedback”.
Star Mohey Ismail referred to his symposium entitled “the Psychodrama in Egyptian Cinema” in which he will tackle samples of his works. Ismail joked saying: “there are a lot of rich people in Egypt… Why didn’t businessmen support the festival?”.
Gamal Abdel Nasser announced the jury of the Diaspora competition: director Rachid Mashharawi (Palestine), producer Doura Bouchoucha (Tunisia), and actor Ahmed Magdi (Egypt). 9 films participate in that competition: “Tefl Shakhs Akhar” (France) by Patricia Quindi, “Kol Al-Layali” (Tunisia - France) by Latifa Saeed, “Imbratoryat Al-Samt” (France) by Thierry Michel, “Prince” (Germany) by Lisa Bererworth, “Sout Zohour Qasb Al-Sukkar” (France) by Nicolas Sri, “Ba’yedan Biqadr Ma Astatie Al-Sayr” (Serbia - France) by Stefan Arsenjevik, “Ghad Moshreq” (France) by Yassin Qenya, “Molouk Al-Romba” (USA - Peru) by Alan Brin, and “Salawat Dalfin” (Cameroon) by Rosen Mbakam.
Hala Al-Mawi announced LAFF’s publications and honorees. In its eleventh edition, LAFF honors late Senegalese director Djibril Diop Mambéty and grants iconic star Hussein Fahmy the “Lifetime Achievement Award”. LAFF dedicates its eleventh edition to: Egyptian actress, Huda Sultan, Egyptian actor, Mahmoud Moursy, and Moroccan director, Mohamed Ismail. Furthermore, LAFF honors: Egyptian actor Amr Saad, Burkinabe filmmaker Apolline Traoré, Algerian artist Biyouna, and Tunisian director Férid Boughedir. Uganda is chosen as the guest of honor country.
Most notably, LAFF presents a special program for the development of local audience and supporting talents in Upper Egypt. LAFF presents 8 artistic workshops: “film directing” by Ahmed Rashwan, “children’s cinema” by Shwikar Khalifa, “actors’ preparation” by Al-Asaad Al-Jamousi, “(old – new) film posters” by Zainab Soubhi, “manufacturing heritage boats” by Saeed Al-Bagouri, “theatrical storytelling workshop for women” by Eman Shahin, “mural drawing competition” by Dr. Ahmed Hamdi, and “children’s drawing competition” by Wael Nour. Furthermore, LAFF organizes 3 art exhibitions: “photographic exhibition – Tutankhamun”, “plastic artists exhibition”, and “honorees posters exhibition”.
