Movie stars have made a remarkably unprecedented appearance at the Cairo International Film Festival, which concludes its events today, Tuesday. Al-Masry Al-Youm interviewed a number of actors who were eager to attend the event.
Actress Basma said she was pleased with the festival’s 36th edition, noting that participating films were of a high level artistically speaking, while turnover was high. She said some movies represented a distinguished experiments such as Tunisian movie “Challat of Tunis,” Egyptian “Decor” and Jordanian “Theeb.”
Basma said she cannot judge the organization of the festival since she had not made it to the opening ceremony, but said “festivals are not only about inauguration and red carpets.”
Commenting on the absence of world stars from the event, Basma said she pardons the festival’s administrators who, she said, had to work in difficult conditions.
Actor Ahmed Shaker said he rejects criticisms made against the event, arguing that though the festival does not possess the finances enjoyed by other festivals such as Cannes or Dubai, it enjoys the history and the manpower of producers, authors, directors and actors. He said the festival represents a chance for exposure to different cultures and a break from the local Egyptian and American films the public watches regularly.
Star Mahmoud Yassin, however, believes the organizers, though running the festival’s 36th edition, did not tap into that long experience. “[The festival] was supposed to come out without any mistakes, but organizers were remote from the accumulated expertise, and here lies the difference,” he said. The confusion witnessed during the current edition could be resolved with more experience gained over time, he said, adding that what matters was saving the festival after a two-year hiatus.
Star Ahmed Bedeir also rebuffed attacks against the event, arguing that holding the festival in the current conditions was “a victory for art and creativity,” and delivers a message to the world that “Egypt is faring well both artistically and economically.” He said the absence of world stars is not to be taken against the festival, aruing that what matters is the quality of films screened.
Director Inas al-Degheidy said the festival was, in itself, a “great gain,” despite the existence of errors which, she said, are found at many festivals. She praised the selection of Cairo’s Opera House as a venue for the event, stressing that the selection enriches the festival despite the difficulties it represents in terms of organization.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
