Film festival: two in one

The Film Society Festival Jury, led by screenwriter Bashir Al-Deek, includes film critic Osama Abdel-Fattah, writer and film critic Amal Othman, actress Bushra, film director Tamer Mohsen, critic Rami el-Metwally, director Adel el-Aasar, producer Farouk Abdel-Khaleq, critic Magdy el-Tayeb, cinematography director Mohsen Ahmed, director Mohamed Abu Seif, and writer and film critic Walid Seif.

The Film Society Festival was first launched on 1974 and has been held every year since, except in 2011 due to the 25 January Revolution and 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This year’s event is exceptional because it includes two editions in one.

Festival’s guest of honour, star Hussein Fahmy, presented certificates of appreciation for films that obtained the most votes in the referendum of the Film Society Festival for 2020 and 2021.

Films directors Mando el-Adl, Amir Ramsis, Nadine Kham, and Amr Salama received certificates.

Mahmoud Abdel Samea, the head of the festival had announced that the general referendum, in which members of the association, critics, journalists and filmmakers participated, chose the best films of 2020. Five films that were shown in theatres and digital platforms. Day and Night, directed by Ayman Makram, Sando’o el-Donia by Imad Al-Bahat, Saheb el-Maqam by Muhammad Jamal el-Adl, Taw’am el-Rouh by Othman Abu Laban, and Curfew by Amir Ramses, were the films of the 47th edition of the festival.

As for films for 2021, they are Wa’fet Regala directed by Ahmed el-Gendy, Al-Arif by Ahmed Alaa el-Deeb, El-Ins wi-l-Nems by Sherif Arafa, Moussa by Peter Mimi, Mitteen Gineh by Mohamed Amin, Barra el-Manhag by Amr Salama, and Abu Saddam by Nadine Khan.