On Saturday 10 February, Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem attended the 44th Film Association Festival presided over by Mahmoud Abdel-Samea. The event, which took place at the Renaissance Cinema in Downtown Cairo, was attended by a number of accomplished filmmakers and cinema icons including Ezzat El-Alayli. Under the slogan “Towards Egyptian…Egyptian Cinema,” the event started its closing ceremony with Abdel-Samea expressing great appreciation for the minister of culture for standing by the association, which was founded in 1960. Abdel-Dayem and El-Alayli were cordially invited on stage to honour nine Filmography figures: researcher and critic Mahmoud Ali, writer and critic Iris Nazmy, former dean of the Higher Institute of Cinema Shawky Ali, director Mohamed Nabil, Palestinian director Ghaleb Sha'ath, musician and composer Omar Khairat, as well as actors Gamil Ratib, Farouk El-Fishawy and Libliba. The winners were granted shields of honour and certificates of appreciation Among the shields of honour winners were Yasser El-Naggar for best visual effects and Hesham Nazih for best music score for the film Al-Aslyeen (The Originals). Mohamed Hammad, who made Akhdar Yabis (Withered Green), won best script and the Exceptional Jury Award. Ali the Goat and Ibrahim, by Sherif El-Bindary, won the Samy Al-Salamony innovation and creativity award. Salwa Mohamed Ali won best actress in a supporting role and Amr Farouk received a cinematography certificate of appreciation for the same film. Sherine Reda won best actress in a leading role and Ahmed Dash received a performance certificate of recognition for their roles in the film Photocopy. Maged El-Kedwany won acting awards for his performances in Al-Aslyeen (The Originals) and Sheikh Jackson. Ahmed Malek won best actor in a supporting role for his performance in Sheikh Jackson. Al-Kenz (The Treasure) won six awards, including best picture and best director (Sherif Arafa). The best costumes award went to Malak Zoul Foqar, best décor went to Onsi Abu-Sief, best cinematography went to Ayman Aboul Makarem and best actor in a leading role to Mohamed Saad. Actress Lebleba receives award at the 44th Film Association Festival (Photo: courtesy of the Ministry of Culture's media office) The 44th Film Association Festival's awards winners (Photo: courtesy of the Ministry of Culture's media office) 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
