Closing ceremony of the Alexandria Film Festival for Mediterranean Countries (Photo: Al-Ahram)
The closing ceremony of the 31st edition of Alexandria Film Festival for Mediterranean Countries (AMFF) took place on 8 September, in the presence of the Governor of Alexandria Hani Meseiri.
Also present at the ceremony were Syrian actor Duraid Lahham, Egyptian actress Elham Shahin, Jordanian actress Saba Mubarak, and Egyptian cinematographer Tarek El-Telmissany, amongst others.
Algerian film Akher El-Kalam by director Mohamed Zawy won the Best Documentary Film Award. The Special Jury Prize went to Emirati director Nejoum El-Ghani, and a certificate of appreciation was given to Jordanian director Yehia Abdallah.
The Best Short Feature Film Award was shared by Egyptian director Mohanad Diab for his film Hayat Tahra (Tahra’s Life), and Tunisian director Hend Bou Gomaa for her film Fa Tazawag Romeo Min Juliet (Then Romeo Married Juliet). Beauty, by Italian director Rino Stefano, and Dinner for Few, by Greek director Nassos Vakalis, received special recognitions from the jury.
Albanian film Vergine Giurata (Sworn Virgin) by director Laura Bispuri received the Best Long Feature Film Award. Moreover, the film's actress Alba Rohrwacher received the Faten Hamama Award for acting, and the film's screenwriter received the Naguib Mahfouz Award for best script.
Syrian film El-Rabeaa Bi Tawqeet El-Ferdos received the Special Jury Prize in the long feature film competition. Sara by Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi received the Kamal Malakh Award for best first work. Moroccan actor Elias El-Shakhani received the Omar Sharif Award for best acting.
In the Nour El-Sherif competition, Algerian film El-Bi’r (The Well) received a total of four awards, including best script, best film, best director (which went to Lotfy Bishawy) and best actress (which went to Nadia Qassem). The Special Jury Prize was shared by the Iraqi film Samt El-Raei (The Silence of the Shepherd) and Syrian film Rasayel El-Karz (Cherry Messages). Egyptian film Saayokom Mashkour Ya Bro, by director Adel Adib, received special recognition from the jury.
This year’s round commenced on 3 September and honoured renowned Egyptian actor Mahmoud Yassin.
AMFF is an annual festival organised by the Egyptian Association for Film Writers and Critics, under the auspices of the ministries of culture, information and tourism.
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