The 45th Cairo International Film Festival opened its 45th session on Wednesday at the Cairo Opera House Grand Theater with a screening of the Palestinian film “Fleeting Dreams” by director Rashid Masharawi.
The film stars Ashraf Barhoum, Amelia Al-Masso, and Adel Abu Ayyash, and belongs to the category of road films, in which the child Sami (12 years old), from the Qalandiya camp, begins a journey along with his uncle and cousin. in a vehicle from Bethlehem to East Jerusalem to Haifa, to bring back a pigeon he had raised on the roof of his house.
The opening ceremony included an artistic performance by the Palestinian band “Watan al-Funun” The festival also honored Egyptian director Yousry Nasrallah at the opening, Egyptian actor Ahmed Ezz, and Bosnian director Danis Tanovic and Herzegovina.
Last year’s session was canceled after the war started in the Gaza Strip next to the Egyptian border, and the artist Hussein Fahmy, the head of the festival, confirmed that the film event held under the auspices of the Ministry the Culture is completely responsible this year. national sponsors from outside the “boycott list” drawn up by organizations supporting the Palestinians for international funding for Israel.
Fahmy said in his opening speech, “For many years, the question of Palestine has been and remains an issue for Egypt, and the issue of all people who fight for the meaning of justice, fairness, freedom and dignity. “
The festival program, which lasts until November 22, includes the screening of more than 190 films from around 70 countries, including 3 films within the program (Spotlight on Palestinian Cinema) and a group of films (From Distance Zero) nominated to compete for the Oscar for Best International Film.
In addition to film screenings, the festival program includes a series of panel discussions and workshops covering topics such as production, distribution, and interior sound design (Cairo Film Industry Days) in its 6th session .
The program also includes organizing the Cairo Film Forum in its 10th session, which will provide financial and logistical support to several new projects in the development and post-production stages.
