At the Marriott Hotel in Zamalek the Middle East Music Awards (MEMA, 2013) honoured the crew of UAE singer Hussein Al-Jassmi's song Boshret Khair (Good Tidings), by lyricist Ayman Bahgat Amar and composer Amr Mustafa. Carole Samaha received the best music video award for her song Wahshani Beladi (I Miss my Country), Tamer Hosni the best singer and best talent awards, and Samira Said the best singer and best single awards, the latter for her song Mazal (Still). Massar Egbari got the best band award. The jury of the MEMA included poet Nader Abdallah, composer Hani Mehanna and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dear Guest Maged Hosni. Yemeni Ambassador and permanent representative to the Arab League Mohamed Al-Hemsi gave a reception at the Safir Hotel to celebrate the 24th anniversary of Yemen's national day. Present were the Minister of Health and Population Adel Adawi and the former secretary general of the Arab League and chairman of the 50-member committee that drafted the constitution Amr Moussa. Also present were numerous diplomats including Omani Ambassador Khalifa Al-Harithi, Tunisian Ambassador Mahmoud Al-Khomieri, Moroccan Ambassador Mohamed Al-Alaami, Palestinian Ambassador Barakat Al-Fara, Iraqi Ambassador Diaa Al-Dabbas, Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem Al-Zamanan and Lebanese Ambassador Khaled Ziyada. Egyptian singer Emad Kamal gave a concert at El-Sawy Culturewheel, entertaining an audience that included the stars of The Voice talents TV show Moroccan singer Halima Al-Alawi and Egyptian singer Amira Said, who joined Kamal on stage. Singers Ahmed Nader and Mohamed Barakat from The Winner Is also joined Kamal. Following 5 days of celebrations, the 17th Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts (3-8 June), has successfully closed another remarkable edition of one of the most prominent film events and one of the earliest film festivals in the Arab world. Held at the Ismailia Culture Palace, the ceremony was attended by several renowned filmmakers and auteurs along with the Festival President Kamal Abdel-Aziz, who is also Director of the National Cinema Centre, Scriptwriter and Producer Mohamed Hefzi, Festival Director and Major-General Ahmed Suleiman Zahra acting for the governor of Ismailia, who handed the awards to the winning filmmakers. At the beginning of the ceremony, the Egyptian director, Ali Al-Gazouli was honoured for all his works and contributions to develop the documentary filmmaking in Egypt. The remarkable Syrian director, Mohamed Malas was also honoured; however his award was received by Lama Tayara, a Syrian journalist, since Malas could not attend the ceremony. Then, the announcement of the winners commenced with the awards granted by the Egyptian Animation Society which decided to give the Best Animation award to Santiago Bou Grasso's Father (Argentina - France) for it brilliantly mastered using the StopMotion techniques-animation and tempo throughout the film. In addition, the film's idea and sound effects quality were very remarkable. The jury also presented certificates of appreciation to Alexandra Hetmerova's Mythopolis (Czech Republic) and Ahmed Hano's Alone (Egypt). The $3000 Garaad Production Grant, which is awarded to an Egyptian director participating in the Short Films competition to fund his upcoming film project, was granted to Ahmed Al-Ghoneimi for his film The Cave, after a heated competition against 4 Egyptian films. The Egyptian Film Critic Association Jury unanimously decided to give Best Film award to the long documentary, Grazing the Sky (Portugal - Mexico) by Horacio Alcala. After watching 15 films tackling the issues of women, Appropriate Communications Centre for Development (ACT) jury decided to grant the award $1000 grant of the Best Women's film Om Amira by Naji Ismaila. The jury also gave a special mention for Turkish Hassan Serin's short Agri and the Mountain. Afterwards, the winners within the official competitions were announced. Short Fiction and Animation Film awards were announced by Marian Khouri, the Jury president as well as the Lebanese critic Hauvick Habechian, a jury member. For the Animation films, the jury has granted a Special Mention to the Argentinean film Father by Grasso for the powerful emotional impact of the film. For its unrivaled stylish and entertaining qualities, the jury prize went to The High High Heels by Christer Lindström. Whereas, the Best film award (The Golden Tablet) was granted to The Kiosk by Anete Melece, from Switzerland, for its charm, humour and skillful execution. In the Short Fiction Films competition, a Special Mention has been granted to Little Secret by Martin Krejci for its poignant commentary on the distorting power of the media and the magnificent performance of its central character, While, Dina Abdel-Salam's Rest in Peace received the Jury Prize for its mesmerising performances and stunning writing.
