The second edition of the VS-FILM Festival for Very Short Films commenced on Sunday in El Sokhna, a picturesque city on Egypt's Red Sea coast. The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Tarek El-Shazly, Governor of Suez, alongside a constellation of stars and filmmakers from across the Arab world and beyond. This year, the festival, which concludes on 6th November, received an impressive 2,500 film submissions, from which 300 were meticulously selected for the two competitive sections and official out-of-competition programmes. The festival features two distinct competitions: one for films with a maximum runtime of five minutes, and another for films not exceeding ten minutes. Osama Abou Nar, President of the Festival, recently affirmed the organisers' commitment to assembling a jury of diverse local and international cinematic and artistic luminaries. This blend of expertise, encompassing directing, acting, producing, screenwriting, and animation, aims to foster dynamic engagement with the submitted films and ensure rigorous standards in selecting the award winners. He further explained that since its inception, the festival has sought the involvement of international filmmakers to establish robust foundations for very short film production and to leverage the expertise present in the judging panels and filmmaking workshops. Ziad Basmir, the festival's Executive Director, noted that the number of films vying for awards in this second edition has significantly increased compared to the inaugural year. Opening Night Highlights The opening ceremony, co-hosted in Arabic and English by media personality Bosy Shalaby and Yasmine Bakir, saw the rare and restored short film "Suez, is My City" by the late director Ali Abdel Khalek screened. This film, one of Abdel Khaleq's earliest directorial works, offered a poignant nod to cinematic history. Ashraf Abdel Baky Honoured A highlight of the evening was the tribute to actor Ashraf Abdel Baky, honoured on the beachfront for his extensive cinematic career. Abdel Baky, who began his artistic journey at an early stage, has starred in over 65 films, many of which have garnered accolades at local and international film festivals. A distinguished assembly of artists, including Shery Adel, Mohamed Radwan, Sabry Fawaz, Olfat Omar, Hamza El-Eily, director Adel Adib and his wife Manal Salama, director Omar Abdel Aziz, and director Ashraf Fayek, attended the symposiums dedicated to veteran actress Hala Sedky and the celebrated honouree, Ashraf Abdel Baky. Actress Olfat Omar lauded Ashraf Abdel Baky, highlighting his remarkable ability to support young talent and foster a positive spirit in any production he joins. During Abdel Baky's symposium, Omar remarked, "Ashraf embraces young people and meticulously attends to every detail with great love, and he knows how to unite people around him." She noted her collaboration with him on two artistic projects, adding, "In the film 'Khali min El-Cholesterol' (2005) (Cholesterol-Free) with director Mohamed Abu Seif and actress Elham Shahin, Ashraf Abdel Baky delivered a very challenging role with high professionalism, and he interacts with everyone with love and positive energy. Actor Sabry Fawaz echoed these sentiments, commending Abdel Baky's dedication to young artists. Ashraf Abdel Baky: A Journey Through Cinema and Theatre Ashraf Abdel Baky shared insights into his cinematic beginnings, recalling his entry into the field in the late 1980s with the film "Hell Under Water," directed by Nader Galal, alongside a stellar cast of prominent stars. During his symposium at the VS-FILM Festival, Abdel Baky recounted, "My first scene in cinema was with the great artist Adel Adham, and I was terrified. I felt a huge difference between theatre and cinema, and I thought to myself, 'What is this exaggeration?'"Despite the initial trepidation, he explained that this pivotal first experience significantly launched his artistic career, refining his talent and equipping him with invaluable on-camera expertise. Abdel Baky further delved into his artistic journey, detailing his early theatrical work. He revealed that he performed in approximately 80 amateur plays before enrolling in the institute, considering this period fundamental to shaping his artistic persona. At the El Sokhna festival symposium, Abdel Baky stated, "I began with the play 'Rosewood,' followed by the 'Teatro Misr' experience, and then 'Masrah Misr,' which was an entirely new experience for the audience." He added that technological advancements led to the disappearance of many professions, and the concept of "Masrah Misr" emerged to align with this change. He elaborated, "Previously, plays would last three hours or more, so I thought of creating a one-hour play that was full of laughter and enjoyment." Abdel Baky noted that "Masrah Misr" was built on improvisation and teamwork, with its core being the television broadcast, which initially met with some resistance. However, the experiment achieved immense success, marking a turning point in the history of Egyptian theatre. Distinguished Jury Panel Veteran director Omar Abdel Aziz chairs the festival's jury, which includes Egyptian members Shery Adel, Manal Salama, and animation professor Mohamed Ghaleb. International representation on the jury comprises French director Jean-Marie Villemot, recognised as Best Director in Indianapolis in 2014 for his poignant comedy "The Cream"; British director and screenwriter Peter Lloyd, a professor at the British University in Egypt; and Nigerian director, producer, and screenwriter Desmond Ovbiagele, whose film "The Milkmaid" was Nigeria's first entry to be nominated for the 93rd Academy Awards and garnered five awards from the Africa Movie Academy Awards. "The Milkmaid" is inspired by the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.
