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The opening ceremony of the 45th session of the Cairo International Film Festival was held this evening, in the presence of a immense group of artistic stars, in celebration of the magic of cinema and support for the Palestinian cause and Lebanon.
The opening ceremony began with a Palestinian show in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, and the concert stage was covered with the Palestinian shawl. After that, the atmosphere heated up with the performance of the song “Palestinian.” At the end of the show, the head of the festival, the great star Hussein Fahmy, appeared and interceded with the Palestinian band and said that they were all from Gaza. He applauded them and thanked him.
Opening of the 45th Cairo Film Festival
Opening of the 45th Cairo Film Festival
After that, Hussein Fahmy gave a speech in which he said: “We celebrate during this session, which I have the honor to chair. This session was postponed from last year in solidarity with Gaza, and over the years the Palestinian issue has been and still is the Egyptian issue because it represents justice and dignity, and from my place here I express my solidarity with our brothers in Palestine and Gaza.” We will not forget our sisters in Lebanon, a country that has been suffering for years and is facing a arduous test. We stand in solidarity with its people.”
Then, the Minister of Culture, Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, came up to deliver a speech in which he said: “From the heart of Cairo, the capital of art, civilizations meet, and we meet again the ocean of creativity at the Cairo Film Festival, which has become a symbol of the seventh art, and its name was recorded in letters of light among the international festivals, so that Egypt is among the leaders. Egypt is an incubator of talent, and here it is.” We tell our stories and listen to the human voice through artistic creations from around the world.”
Opening of the 45th Cairo Film Festival
The Minister sent a tribute to everyone who left a mark on this festival since its inception until now, starting from its founder, Kamal Al-Malakh, to the great artist Hussein Fahmy, who remains a symbol of high art. His presence in this festival is increasing enthusiasm and brilliance. The Cairo Festival will continue to celebrate creativity and innovation, and we will all celebrate its magic, and we will make this session A novel chapter of renewal for the most prestigious Cairo Film Festival.
Opening of the 45th Cairo Film Festival
The Cairo Film Festival mourned the departed stars in 2024, and Hussein Fahmy said: “Art is present in adversity and crises, and cinema is capable of telling stories about people who lived, dreamed, and triumphed. There are people we missed, but with their works they left an impact on us. They are Ashraf Abdel Ghafour, Nahid Farid Shawqi, Salah Al-Saadani, Essam Al-Shamaa, and Atef. Beshay, Hassan Youssef, and Mustafa Fahmy.”
During the ceremony, Hussein Fahmy screened restored films from the classics of Egyptian cinema, including “Qasr Al-Shouq”, “Bein Al-Qasrain”, “The Quail and the Autumn”, “The Forbidden”, “Something of Fear” and others, stressing that the idea of restoration aims to improve quality and preserve our history. And our movies.
Opening of the 45th Cairo Film Festival
Media presenter Jasmine Taha Zaki presented the ceremony and said that cinema is one of the most vital arts that is able to live in all the details of life with all its feelings. There are sweet stories that we enjoy and there are painful and sorrowful stories. The beauty of cinema lies in seeing the stories and bringing us together with all their nationalities in front of a giant, enchanting screen, which is what we will see in the festival’s activities. The coming days.
Opening of the 45th Cairo Film Festival
Cairo Film Festival Honors
Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Hanno and festival president Hussein Fahmy honored the head of the festival’s jury, Bosnian director and producer Danis Tanovic.
Then, director Yousry Nasrallah was honored by giving him the Golden Pyramid Appreciation Award for Lifetime Achievement, in appreciation of what he presented throughout his busy artistic career. He said: “I thank Hussein Fahmy and the Minister for nominating me for the award, and Egyptian cinema this year is better in terms of revenues and participation in international festivals, and we are the tillers of cinema because it is our conscience.” I extend my greetings to my fellow Palestinian filmmakers, and at the end of his speech, he thanked cinema.”
After that, the Cairo Festival honored the star Ahmed Ezz by giving him the Faten Hamama Award for Excellence. He said: “About 24 years ago, they gave me a choice between continuing my work and starring in my first film, and I chose to enter the field of acting without my family’s desire. While I was filming, the Cairo Festival was about to start, and I was waiting for an invitation to the Cairo Festival to come so I could be happy.” My family and I entered the red carpet, and no one recognized me. Days passed, and I would stand here and be honored and take an award whose owner’s name alone is a prize, and from the Minister of Culture and the star of stars like him, Hussein Fahmy. Unfortunately, the honor has come, and my father and mother are not there.”
Opening of the 45th Cairo Film Festival
Ahmed Ezz continued: “The honor is not my effort, it is a tribute to everyone who taught me and who gives me the credit, and I consider the award an incentive for me in what is to come, and I feel that I have not done anything yet, and I dedicate this award to the star Adel Imam.”
Hussein Fahmy then concluded the ceremony, inviting the audience to watch the opening Palestinian film “Fleeting Dreams” by director Rashid Masharawi in its world premiere.
The 45th session of the Cairo Film Festival will witness the participation of 190 films from 72 countries, in addition to two television episodes, while the activities include 16 red carpet screenings, 37 world premieres, 8 international premieres, and 119 screenings for the Middle East and Africa.
The Cairo International Film Festival is one of the most prestigious festivals in the Arab world and Africa and is unique in being the only festival in the Arab and African region registered in Category A in the International Federation of Producers in Paris (FIAPF).
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