“Art can give people a new dimension to look at and a new way to judge things. Art not only gives people new horizons but also aspirations for the future,” landscape designer Lily Kwong told the audience attending the World Youth Forum's session on the role of art and cinema in shaping societies. Kwong said nature, gardens and natural landscapes can create a sense of tranquillity and inner peace. “My strength always comes from trying to learn new things or master a new art. We have to remain open to benefit from others' innovations and knowledge. Any form of innovation is valuable, especially if there are a lot of challenges.” Mohamed Hefzi, Egyptian producer and head of Cairo International Film Festival, spoke of the role of cinema in forming a collective consciousness. “Cinema has a big role in society. It entertains people, makes them forget about their burdens and also represents positive models,” he said. Cinema also makes us ask questions about the current situation and “lets us analyse and evoke human values that could benefit society”. “Art and cinema should not be subordinated to any specific message. Cinema should aim for universality and not to be limited by time or place. It must focus on human values that have no spatial or temporal boundaries.” Filmmakers should make what they want, not what the audience or the market wants because the trend is always changing, Hefzi said. Producer and composer Hisham Kharma argued that art is one of the main aspects of knowledge. The “easiest and fastest way to know and identify a country is to see that country's pictures and documentary films and listen to its songs”, he said.