CAIRO - Egypt's cinema community is divided over a recent decision by the Ministry of Culture to cancel this year's edition of the Cairo International Film Festival. The Ministry of Culture said that they had cancelled the 35th International Film Festival for financial and political reasons, as it was meant to be held when Egypt will be holding its presidential elections next November. Ezzat Abu Ouf, the President of the Cairo International Film Festival, has welcomed the decision, describing it as wise given the sensitive times we are Egypt is going through. He adds that he is thinking of resigning from the festival, to give the younger generation with new ideas a chance. Many artists, however, have attacked the decision to cancel the festival, describing it as a cowardly one that escapes responsibility and wastes a good chance to promote Egypt and Egyptian tourism after the revolution. Famed Egyptian scriptwriter Wahid Hamed thinks that the cancellation will be a loss for Egyptian cinema, which needs such events to support it, while the festival is always a good opportunity for people to exchange ideas. He also suggests that the decision to cancel has been taken to dodge the challenge of organising such an event. "This decision will prevent many world stars who are eager now to visit Egypt from coming, adding that the tourism sector will also lose out," says film critic Magda Murice. Some other artists describe the decision as wise, arguing that the money and attention should be diverted to the cinema industry itself, which is already suffering. Veteran Egyptian actor Youssef Shaaban says that the officials concerned should urgently examine the reasons for the setback in Egyptian cinema, one of the oldest in the world. Egyptian cinema is the guest of honour in this year's Cannes Film Festival. The Cairo International Film Festival is not the first festival to be cancelled by the culture authorities ��" the International Festival for Experimental Theatre was recently cancelled for the same reasons. News reports suggest that Sami el-Sherif, the head of Egyptian Radio and TV Union, is also thinking of cancelling the Arab Media Festival, due to be held in November. Many other many major cultural events in Egypt are awaiting a similar decision. In the meantime, Minister of Culture Emad Abu Ghazi stresses that the Festival will be coming back next year, while the Ministry is preparing for other cultural activities. The Cairo International Film Festival, the oldest and most prestigious film festival in the Arab world, is witnessing these days fierce competition from various other, emerging Arab festivals. But it's still very popular with many world celebrities who find it a good opportunity to visit the Egyptian capital.
