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Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Alexandria Mediterranean Countries Film Festival to honour Laila Eloui - Screens - Arts & Culture
The management of Alexandria Mediterranean Countries Film Festival revealed that the event's 41st edition (2-6 October) will honour Egyptian actress Laila Eloui. This honour comes in recognition of Eloui's long and distinguished artistic career—one of the most prominent in the history of Egyptian and Arab cinema. Born in 1962, Laila Eloui has left a significant mark through a wide range of roles—classic, social, romantic, and comedic—delivering performances that have become iconic in Egyptian cinematic memory. She has starred in nearly 100 films, sharing the screen with many of Egypt's most renowned actors, including Adel Imam, Ahmed Zaki, and Farid Shawky, and working under the direction of dozens of filmmakers, such as Youssef Chahine. Chahine cast her in Al-Masseer (Destiny, 1997), alongside Nour El-Sherif, Mahmoud Hemeida, and Khaled El Nabawy. The film competed for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Eloui also starred in his Iskendereya Kaman We Kaman (Alexandria Again and Forever, 1989), again appearing with El-Sherif and Hemeida. She has also worked with directors Mohamed Khan, Samir Seif, Atef El-Tayeb, Yousry Nasrallah, Ahmed Yehia, Raafat El-Mehy, Kawthar Younis, Ayten Amin, and many others across generations. A highly versatile actress, Eloui has also appeared in more than 60 television series and 20 theatre productions. She has served on the juries of several local and international film festivals and has received numerous honours from the cinema industry. Alexandria Mediterranean Countries Film Festival One of Egypt's oldest film festivals, the Alexandria Mediterranean Countries Film Festival is an annual event organized by the Egyptian Association for Film Writers and Critics, under the auspices of the Ministries of Culture, Information, and Tourism. It highlights the cultural wealth of the Mediterranean Basin. The 41st edition will take place from 2 to 6 October under the theme Cinema and Beauty, with broad participation from filmmakers across Egypt and the Mediterranean. Prominent Egyptian film critic, writer, poet, and journalist Amir Abaza heads this year's edition. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Today
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Aswan International Women Film Festival to Honor Kinda Alloush
Kinda Alloush. The Aswan International Women Film Festival is set to honor acclaimed actress Kinda Alloush at the opening of its ninth edition, running from May 2 to 7. This year, the festival pays tribute to the iconic Umm Kulthum, celebrating Egyptian and Arab female creativity as the world commemorates 50 years since her passing. The festival organizers stated that Kinda Alloush is being recognized for her remarkable talent and outstanding film career, which includes significant collaborations with acclaimed directors across generations in both Syrian and Egyptian cinema. Throughout her journey, Alloush has powerfully portrayed diverse female characters, bringing to life the hopes, struggles, and dreams of women. In recent years, Kinda Alloush has shined on the global stage, starring in internationally acclaimed films directed by renowned female filmmakers. These include The Swimmers by Sally El Hosaini, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and screened at both the London and Cairo film festivals; Nezouh by Soudade Kaadan, which won the Audience Award at the Venice Film Festival; and The Yellow Bus by Wendy Bednarz, showcased at TIFF alongside a cast of leading Indian actors. Alloush's distinguished cinematic career began with the late director Hatem Ali in the short film Passion, and she went on to star in notable Syrian films such as The Last Night of Ghilan of Damascus with Haitham Hakki, The Strangers with Abbas Rafei, and Once Again with Joud Said. She also headlined the Syrian-Lebanese production 23 Days directed by Jamal Shourjeh. Her Egyptian cinema debut came with renowned director Sherif Arafa in Welad El-Am, followed by standout roles in films like One True Love, Hepta by Hadi El Bagoury, The Vagabond by Essam El Shamaa, Partita by Sherif Mandour, Excuse My French by Amr Salama, The Deal by Sandra Nashaat, Cairo Time by Amir Ramses, and The Originals by Marwan Hamed. Beyond the silver screen, Kinda Alloush has left a lasting mark on television, starring in major Egyptian and Syrian series such as Sultan Beibars, The Invasion, Born from the Flank, People of Cairo, Del'aa Banat, Countdown, Friendly Fire, The Covenant, The Wedding Song, Moonlight, The Wives of Beit El-Maadi, and recently, the Ramadan hit My Sisters. Alloush has also served on juries for numerous prestigious film festivals, including multiple editions of the Cairo International Film Festival, El Gouna Film Festival, Tropfest Arabia, Luxor African Film Festival, Alexandria Short Film Festival, and Cairo Short Film Festival. The ninth edition of the Aswan International Women's Film Festival is held under the patronage of Egypt's Ministries of Culture, Tourism, and Social Solidarity, along with the Egyptian Tourism Authority, EgyptAir, the National Council for Women, the Syndicate of Cinematic Professions, Aswan Governorate, and Aswan University.
Egypt Today
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Aswan International Women Film Festival Unveils Poster for Its 9th Edition Honoring the Iconic Umm Kulthum
The Aswan International Women Film Festival has revealed the official poster for its 9th edition, taking place from May 2 to 7, 2025. This year's poster pays tribute to the legendary 'Star of the East,' Umm Kulthum, commemorating 50 years since the passing of the most influential woman in the Middle East and Arab world over the past century. Poster designer, artist Hisham Ali, explained that he aimed to create a design that captures the cinematic and artistic essence of Umm Kulthum, an unparalleled figure in the history of Arabic music. The poster embraces a conceptual art style, blending various creative elements to highlight the central theme: celebrating Umm Kulthum through the lens of cinema. 'The centerpiece of the design is a winding black film strip, cleverly shaped to form the features of Umm Kulthum's face,' Hisham revealed. 'This visual fusion between cinema and music symbolizes her timeless artistic influence. The flowing film strip suggests movement and continuity as if Umm Kulthum's legacy remains alive and vibrant across generations—much like cinema itself, which carries creativity from the past into the present.' Hisham Ali added, 'For this poster, I used simple, abstract lines to depict her features—a style known as line art. This minimalist approach highlights the essential contours without overwhelming details, allowing viewers to focus on the harmony between the art of cinema and the power of music.' A celebrated visual artist, Hisham Ali has designed posters for several international festivals, earning multiple global accolades for his work. The 9th edition of the Aswan International Women Film Festival is held under the patronage of Egypt's Ministries of Culture, Tourism, and Social Solidarity, along with the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, EgyptAir, the National Council for Women, the Syndicate of Cinematic Professions, Aswan Governorate, and Aswan University.
