Youssef Cherif Rizkallah, artistic director of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), has shared news of this year's 39th edition.

Renowned performer Samir Ghanem is to receive the Faten Hamama Honorary and Excellence Award, as testament to the vital role he has played in the film scene and his immense contribution to Egyptian cinema.

Ghanem is an Egyptian comedian, singer and entertainer. His filmography includes over 40 films, between 1964 and the present. 

Some of his notable films include El-Regala Fi Khatar (1993), Awlad Al-Halal (1978) and Mogrem Raghm Anfih (1991).

Among his best known roles are the comic character of Fatota, a famous TV classic from the 1980s. He was a member of 'Tholathy Adwa'a El-Masrah,' the 1970s standup comedy trio, with George Sidhom and El Deif Ahmed.

Regarding the challenges faced by the festival's administration in its 39th edition, Rizkallah explained in an interview with Al-Ahram Arabic News that the most critical goal at the moment is to increase the festival's budget, as an increased budget will allow the administration to hold the festival at a higher standard across all functions.

Rizkallah also added that the administration has begun watching films weekly in preparation for the selection process of films scheduled for release in the next edition, in November.

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