The French Institute in Mounira will host the 9th 'Rencountre de l'image' (Film Festival) from April 7 until 15 April. The judging panel for the festival is headed by film director Ahmed Abdallah, and also includes screenwriter Mariam Nawaem and film director Ahmed Fawzy Saleh. On the closing night of the festival, the judges will present the winners with two prizes: an invitation to attend the Mediterranean Film Festival in Montpelier and the Marseille Film Festival. The festival audience will also choose a winner among first-year filmmakers. The festival opens with a screening of Coming Forth By Day by Hala Lotfy (Arabic) which won the Bronze Award at the Carthage Film Festival in November 2012. There will be a talk by the director after the screening. Among the highlights of the festivals will be screenings of some of Egypt's most successful films this year, including Amir Ramsis' Jews of Egypt and Hanan Abdallah' In the Shadow of a Man. All screenings take place at the French Institute in Mounira on Madraset El-Hoqouq El-Ferenseya Street Programme: Sunday 7 April at 7pm Al-Khoroug Ila El-Nahar (Coming Forth By Day) by Hala Lotfy A feature film tells the story of two women as they take care of their sick man, diving into topics relating to submission and the human body Monday 8 April at 7pm Zat Makan (The Identity of a Place) by Ahmed Shawky A short-documentary film following innovative writer Mekkawy Said in Downtown Cairo as he shows his fascination with the place Loqma Nathifa (Decent Food) by Tamer Ashry A short-documentary telling the story of Ahmed who works in a small village 200km from Cairo showing the slum conditions and poor drainage systems Ragol Men Zaman (A Man Since a Long Time) by Mahmoud Youssry A short documentary on the relationships between young men and women and the pressures of society Makhbout (Drugged) by Omar Nayef A short documentary autobiography on young people who turn to drugs and music to escape loneliness and problems Catharsis: A Self-Portrait by Alia Ayman A short documentary shot between New York and Cairo as the director questions the life we were supposed to live in contrast to the life we really live in this self-portrait Ala El-Hodoud (On the Borders) by Mohamed El-Ashhab A short documentary on smuggling of fish between Egypt and Sudan El-Gharqa (The Drowning) by Frosois Abdelnour A short documentary on a group of unknown people as we follow them into their journey into the unknown Tuesday 9 April at 7pm Leqaa' (A Meeting) by Ghada Atef A short film adaptation of Naguib Mahfouz's first literary work. On Fouad's first visit to Cairo he is mesmerised by the hustle and bustle of the city, and meets a man called Gabriel and they come up with an illegal deal Oumma (Nation) by Mohamed Mohsen A short film on children who run in a poor neighbourhood, not to play, but to chase their dreams and run away from injustice Aydy Sagheera (Small Hands) by Amal Afifi A short film about a small street child, Ramadan, as he looks for the means to survive Al-Thawra... Khabar (Reporting a Revolution) by Bassam Mortada A documentary feature on six reporters as they covered the Egyptian revolution and Arab Spring Wednesday 10 April at 7pm Romady (Grey) by Hassan Naema A short film on a young girl who went into a cafe and sat with a man in mid-life Seta (Six) by Bahaa El-Gamal A short film where a gramophone breaks the silence, a couple host a dinner, a gun is found.... Mogarad Sa'at (Only Hours) by Sandrine Samuel Halim A short film on an old man living along who hosts a thief and tries to convince him to change Motalazema (Syndrome) by Amr Okasha A short animation in the metro where the protagonist sees passengers transforming into other objects Esketshaty Betakolny (My Sketches are Eating Me) by Nour Abyad A self-portrait on the director's passion for her work which takes over her life Raffet El-Malabes (The Shelf of Clothes) by Simon Filliot Short animation Alban Wadi El-Nil (Wadi El-Nil Store) by Mohamed El-Hadidi A short film on a man who left his lover and can't help but say hello to her upon meeting her Bayd Oyoun (Eye Eggs) by Mai Zayed A short film on two old people living together but worlds apart Esm El-Shohra Sohair (Known as Sohair) by Fadwa El-Elwany Oud player Shahinaz Fadel, known as Sohair, lost her charm as she got older and sings in a cafe in El-Hussein Thursday 11 April at 7pm Men Foq Letaht (From Top to Bottom) by Yasser El-Houwaidy A short film on a disagreement between two employees on the 59th floor who decided to resolve it on the ground floor Jews of Egypt by Amir Ramsis A documentary feature on the Jews who left Egypt in the middle of last century. The film will be followed by a talk by the director and producer Friday 12 April at 7pm Nozha Fi El-Shams El Romadeya (A Promenade in the Grey Sun) by Mona Lotfy A short film on getting out of the comfort zone where school teacher Laila takes a walk with a stranger Mamnoo' El-Ekterab aw El-Tasweer (Censored Love) by May El-Hossamy A short documentary asking "of the 85% male Muslims, why did you choose from the 15% Christians?" Fi El-Layl (In the Night) by Noha El-Maadawy A short documentary film about a girl who lives out of the realm of reality Habib El-Rouh (Love of my Life) by Nadia Abu Shady A short documentary on a love story between a ninety-year-old man and eighty-year-old woman Fi Zel Ragol (In the Shadow of a Man) by Hanan Abdallah A feature documentary following the lives of four Egyptian women from different social classes and cultures as they discuss women's issues. After the screening there will be a talk by the director Saturday 13 April at 7pm Lady Helm (I have a dream) by Michelle Magdy A short film of the autobiography of Michelle who is a young boy from a poor family who works as a blacksmith and loves reading and films Zakaria by Emad Maher A short film on Zakaria who is forbidden to eat chicken by his doctor and he must choose between his love for chicken and the doctor's orders Ana Saeed Giddan Ledaraget Enny Halaab Golf (I am so happy I will play Golf) by Sameh Estefanos A documentary feature on the gold courses that exist in Egypt which require a lot of water in a time where Egyptians are struggling to find water to drink and for agriculture Sunday 14 April at 7pm Hayat by Islam Kamal A short film telling the story of Hayat as she waits for her long lost lover Eih El-Ebara? (What's Happening?) by Karim Shaaban A short film on a young man who works several jobs who struggles with his feelings on Mubarak's departure Wara El-Bab (Behind the Door) by Adham El-Sherif A short film on a mother who leaves her son at home to scare him into obeying her Toqous Masaaeya (Night Rituals) by Ashraf Hamed A short film about a single mom living with her son, every night when she asks him to go to bed, he imagines what she does Markeb Waraq (Paper Boat) by Helmy Nouh A short film exploring the feeling many Egyptians share of disappointment with what the revolution has brought so far, and puts forward the question of: What is to be done now? Le Ravisseurs (Abundance) by Arthur Kahn A short film where Etian dies, and his father and girlfriend are left with sorrow Monday 15 April at 8pm Closing event and screening of the winning films http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/68675.aspx
