CAIRO - French movie star Juliette Binoche posing in front of the Sphinx near the Giza Pyramids, on the outskirts of Greater Cairo, Tuesday. At the Cairo Opera House, a luxurious gala last night marked the opening of the 34th Cairo International Film Festival, which was attended by Egyptian and international movie stars. This year, most local cinemas refused to host the festival because it would have meant halting the screening of popular, if not critically acclaimed, Egyptian films during Eid el-Adha (the Muslim feast of sacrifice). The festival's films are only being shown on five screens in Cairo, three of them at the Opera House, which you require a special pass to enter. Organisers have made Egypt the prime focus of the current edition of the festival, while Queen Nefertiti (inset) is the festival's new avatar. A series of new films from Turkey are being highlighted. Binoche and Hollywood star Richard Gere, who once worked together on the American film “Bee Season” (2005), were the only A-list guests at the gala, which included a dinner following the opening and another special dinner for Binoche herself. The nine-day festival has attracted the participation of 70 countries. Around 16 movies are competing for the festival's grand prize, including an Egyptian film.
