♣ The Second LuxorEgyptian and European Film Festival (19-25 January) opened this week. Headed by Magda Wassef, the event is organised by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with the Noon Foundation for Culture and Arts as well as various Egyptian and European organisations. The festival features 62 films from 19 European countries and the premiere of Mohamed Khan's latest, Fatat Al-Masna' (Factory Girl). Starring Yasmine Raeis and Hani Adel, the film received the Muhr Arab Feature Best Actress Award for Raeis and the Best Arab Feature Award at the International Federation of Film Critics. The world premiere of Amr Salama's Lamo'khza (Excuse me) took place at the opening gala of the festival in the presence of the cast. The film stars Kinda Alloush, Hani Adel and Ahmed Dash. The highlight of this year's edition is the New German Cinema and Independent Egyptian Cinema sections, screening some Egyptian classic films and a selection of films by veteran Egyptian actor Nour Al-Sherif and Russian director Vladimir Menshov.
¨ A commemoration ceremony entitled “Goodbye Egypt” was organised in the Cairo Opera House Main Hall to honour the memory of vernacular poet Ahmed Fouad Negm. The event was attended by Minister of Culture Saber Arab, Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris, politician Hamdeen Sabahi, Sheikh Osama Al-Qousi, lawyer Khaled Ali, political activist George Ishak, former vice prime minister Yehia Al-Gamal, director Mohamed Al-Adl, professor Mona Omar, Father Peter Daniel and actress Wafaa Amer. The ceremony opened with a reading of the poetry of Al-Fagoumy by actors Fathi Abdel-Wahab and Sherif Helmi, followed by a performance by singer Mohamed Hassan and his band, then the Eskenderella band. Actors Athar Al-Hakim, Sabri Fawaz, Gedaa Baleegh, and Fatouh Ahmed then recited more of Negm's poetry. The event ended with Ali Al-Haggar singing four of his songs. “We lost a man who enriched cultural and artistic life in Egypt and in the Arab world, a man who survived seven rulers from King Fouad to President Adli Mansour,” commented Arab. Sawiris announced that he will name an LE1,000 prize after the late poet, to be given to a work of art similar to Negm's every year. The ceremony was conducted by actor Ahmed Abdel-Aziz, who also delivered a speech.
♠ Writer Hanan Moufid Fawzi celebrated the release of her newest book Tesbaho ala kheir (Good Night) on the relations between horoscopes and dreams at the Diwan Bookstore in Zamalek. The launch was crowned by the attendance of her father Moufid Fawzi together with the President of the International Union of Muslim-Christian-Jewish Dialogue and Peace Education Ali Al-Samman and his wife Brigitte Lefebvre, Islamic writer Mohamed Abdel-Qoddous, actors Laila Elwi, Ghada Adel and Hassan Al-Raddad, this is in addition to writer Lamis Gaber, TV anchors Rola Kharsa, Ingy Ali, Al-Ahram's Al-Demoqrateya magazine former chief-editor Hala Mustafa and director Khaled Galal.
♥ The organisers of Sudan Independent Film Festival (SIFF) announced the launch of its inaugural edition on 21 January in Khartoum. Presided over by Talal Afifi, the SIFF has also confirmed Egypt as guest of honour of the first edition for its substantial role in the film industry of the African continent. The SIFF also confirmed scriptwriter Sayed Fouad, president of Luxor African Film Festival as honorary guest of the first edition. “I am extremely happy because of the launching of SIFF for the importance of such activities in the development of cinema and the communion between African people,” said Fouad. “Film workshops and lectures will also be organised on the sidelines of the festival including a workshop by Fouad,” added Afifi who dedicated the edition to the memory of renowned Sudanese filmmaker Hussein Sherif. Finally, Mohamed Hanafi, the SIFF's administrator said that the criteria for selecting the films were their originality, creativity and independence from the authority of the big studios and the dictates of capital funds. ♥ Congratulations! Al-Ahram Weekly's very own Environment Editor and Assistant Editor-in-Chief Mahmoud Bakr celebrated the engagement of his lovely daughter Yasmine to Kamal Hassan Baraka, the son of writer Hassan Baraka at Al-Akhbar newspaper. The couple celebrated their engagement in a warm family gathering on Friday. ♣ The 21st Egyptian Marathon took place on 17 January in Luxor with the participation of 400 runners from 22 countries including Egypt, Portugal, Spain, France and Japan. The race (which also accommodated inline skaters and wheelchair users) began at Hatshepsut Temple on the West Bank of Luxor at 7am and covered four distances: Marathon (42,195km), Luxor Run (22,289km), Ramses Run and Walk (12,336km) and Kids Run (5km). Organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Youth, it ended at 1pm; prizes were awarded at 7pm. The first winner was the Egyptian Ahmed Al-Yamani, who covered the 42km distance in two hours and 58 minutes. Luxor residents were able to take part in the marathon. ♠ The Egyptian documentary Al-Midan (The Square) has been nominated for Best Documentary Film at the 86th Academy Awards, the first Egyptian documentary to be in the Oscars. The 95-minute film is directed by Egyptian-American filmmaker Jehane Noujaime and features Khaled Abdallah, Dina Amer, Magdi Ashour, Ahmed Hassan, Ragia Omran and Rami Essam. It illustrates the 25 January Revolution in all its detail, telling the stories that led to the 30 June Revolution. The film was awarded the Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival and the People's Choice Documentary Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013. ♠ The Cairo Opera House is organising a two-day celebration to mark the anniversary of the 25 January Revolution, “The Revolution: Art, Hope, Work”, on 22 and 23 January. “Over 400 artists are participating in the event including a number of the Opera's troupes as well as the budding talents of the Talents Development Centre. Also participating in the event are the Sawt Misr Orchestra led by maestro Ahmed Atef, together with stars from the Cairo Opera Ballet Company, and the Fursan Al-Sharq modern dance troupe, working in coordination with supervisor of the Talent Development Centre, professor Abdel-Wahab Al-Said,” says the Cairo Opera House Chairperson Ines Abdel-Dayem. The event combines contemporary folklore and patriotic songs with panel dances that appeal to Egyptians, including quotes and sayings by celebrities that have influenced the Egyptian people. At first the national anthem is chanted by the Talents Development Centre's budding singers who are to sing Bismillah (In the name of God). This is followed by a performance by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company dancer Ahmed Yehia and a singing recital by Reham Abdel-Hakim who sings Misr Tatahadath an Nafseha (Egypt Speaks for Itself), Bel Waraqa wal Qalam (By Pen and Paper), Misru allaty fi Khatiry (Egypt that is on my mind) and Fiha Haga Helwa (Something Sweet in it).
