The Aswan International Women Film Festival announced 31 films in its lineup in the upcoming first edition, that runs from 20 to 26 February. The selected films all share a concern for women's issues, and with an international selection, bring perspectives from different societies. The feature films category will include 13 films from 13 countries. As for the short films section, 18 films will participate from 12 different countries. The selection includes three Egyptian films, the award-winning Withered Green in the feature length competition, and two in the short films competition, Shaimaa and Sandouq El-Donia. Scriptwriter Mohamed Abdelkhaleq, who heads the festival, stated in a report on Al-Ahram Arabic website that screenings will be held at the Helnan Hotel in Aswan. He also expressed his satisfaction with the festival's selection of high quality films, that were carefully picked by producer and director Ahmed Hassouna, the festival's artistic director, and the selection jury, which includes critic and novelist Saad Qersh, director Dina Hamza, director Youssef Hisham, and French literature professor Dalia El-Seginy. Hassan Abo-Elela, director of the festival, further noted the diversity in the festival's films, and expressed his optimism about the audience turnout. Egyptian director Hala Khalil will head the jury of the features competition, while Italian director Natalie Biancheri heads the short films jury. Films in the feature length category: The Eagle Huntress, documentary, United States of America Directed by Otto Bell, Little Wing, drama, Finland Directed by Selma Vilhonin The Magic Mountain, animation, Romania Directed by Anca Damian The Assasin, drama, China Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien Marriage, drama, Belgium Directed by Steven Stryker The Open Door, drama, Spain Directed by Marina Seresesky Zubaydah, drama, Algeria Directed by Yahya Muzahim, Cheer Up, documentary, Canada/Finland Directed by Christy Garland Withered Green, drama, Egypt Directed by Mohammed Hammad Under Construction, drama, Bangladesh Directed by Rubaiyat Hossain Reflections, documentary, Sweden Directed by Sarah Broos L'Accabadora, drama, Italy Directed by Enrico Pau Claire in Motion, drama, United States of America, Directed by Annie J. Howell and Lisa Robinson Films in the shorts category: Belladonna, drama, Croatia Directed by Dubravka Turic Ayah Goes to the Beach, drama, Morocco Directed by Maryam Touzani, I Promise You, drama, Algeria Directed by Mohammed Yargui The Silence, drama, Italy Directed by Farnoosh Samadi and Ali Asgari Champ des Possibles, documentary, Italy Directed by Christina Picci Scarlet, drama, Croatia Dijana Mlađenović For a Good Time, drama, Germany/ USA Directed by Aemilia Scott Tilda, drama, Germany Directed by Katja Benrath A Letter to God, drama, USA/Azerbaijan Directed by Marina Ibrahimova Local Garden, drama, Greece Directed by Sini Baba Shaimaa, documentary, Egypt Directed by Abdelfattah Farag A Night in a Taxi, drama, United Arab Emirates Directed by Aysha Alzaabi Imago, drama, Philippines Directed by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez Alia, drama, Egypt Directed by Mohamed Saadoun Sandouq El-Donia, animation, Egypt Directed by Marwa Kamel *Pani's Restaurant, animation, Italy Directed by Laura Luchetti *A Clear Vision of my Father, documentary, Denmark Directed by Nikulin Scott Jacobson *Kabovatzi Beyond Borders, documentary, Germany Directed by Gertrude Schultz and Westenberg *Unofficial translations of the film's titles. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture
