The Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) will pay tribute to African star Maimouna N'Diaye during its ninth edition, taking place in the Upper Egypt's ancient city in March, “for her lifetime achievements and contributions to African cinema.”

N'Diaye has also been selected as a member of the jury for the Long Feature Films competition.

"Maimouna is one of the most prominent stars in African cinema, and one of the most talented actresses in the continent," the LAFF Director Azza El- Hosseiny stated on Saturday.

"The multi-talented actress has gained international recognition for her role in 'Eye of the Storm', and was the only African member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival’s official competition. She is also a director of many documentary and narrative films and a social activist, especially for women and children’s issues," she said.

Born in France to a Senegalese father, N'Diaye grew up in Guinea before returning to France to study medicine at 18 years old where she studied performing arts at Le Sorbonne.

Her real breakout in theatre started in Côte d'Ivoire, where she joined the Yamako Tatary Company in 1995, starring in a series of theatre plays and films for 10 years, before starting her career as a documentary director.

She moved to Burkina Faso in 2005 where she continued her work in the field of theatre before breaking into film in Senegal, Guinea and Burkina Faso.

Her prominent plays include 'Butterfly Chasers' in 1992, 'A Garden in Autumn' in 2005, 'Movement' in 1997, 'High School or Marriage', alongside many short films including 'A Plate of Love'.

She voiced a character in the French animation film 'Kirikou and the Sorceress' in 1998, which was translated to various languages including Japanese, and it gained over 20 awards from around the world.

Her documentaries include 'Warbassaga', that follows the life of the Ivoirian Dancer, 'Slices of Life' in 2008 as well as directing the opening ceremony of the FESPACO in 2009.

Under the helm of the festival's president, screenwriter Sayed Fouad, the ninth edition will be named in honour of late actor and producer Farid Shawky, on the occasion of the centenary of his birth.

It will be held between 13 and 19 March, with Kenya as the guest of honour, focusing on the younger generation of Kenyan filmmakers.

Among other honourees, the festival will pay tribute to Malian actor Sotigui Kouyaté, Egyptian actress and singer Akila Ratib, and Tunisian producer Ahmed Bahaeddine Attia in a new competition that will be added called African Diaspora, which will present the creations of Africans from outside the continent.

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