The AFFMC is screening a total of 77 films - from 29 countries- in its Long and Short Narrative competitions, as well as unofficial competitions and parallel programmes.
The festival, which runs until 10 October, hosts a number of different activities such as film screenings and talks. Films will be shown at a number of different venues, including Sheraton El-Montazah Hotel, Horreya Mall 1 and 2, El-Horreya Centre for Creation, the Spanish Cultural Centre, Alexandria Atelier, the Egyptian Japanese University and Pharaohs University’s Faculty of Mass Communication.
The AMCFF 38th edition is named after Egyptian star Mahmoud Hemeida, who is scheduled to give a masterclass on Sunday, as part of the festival's activities.
The opening will see the screening of the 16-minute rare film Barsoum Yabhath A'an Wazifa ("Barsoum is Looking for a Job", 1923) as well as El-Khatib Nemra 13 ("Fiancé Number 13", 1933).
Honourees
The AMCFF 38th will pay tribute to many artists, including Egyptian director Mohamed Abdel-Aziz, Egyptian actress Donia Samir Ghanem, Egyptian historian Emam Omar, Egyptian producer Wageeh El-leithy, Egyptian director Said Hamed, French actress Marriane Borgo, Greek singer Alkistis Protopsalti, and Egyptian actress Nora Armani.
Special tributes will be made to late Egyptian artists. The list includes director Fatin Abd El-Wahab, musician Ali Ismail, cinematographer Abeya Farid and editor Said El-Chiekh, as well as actors Samir Ghanem, Dalal Abdel-Aziz, Ismail Yassin and Samir Sabri.
The International Honouree programme will also pay special tribute to Spanish director Carlos Saura by screening a number of his films like Ay Carmela (1990), Cría Cuervos (1975) and Elisa Vida Mía (1977).
Competitions, Films and Juries
This year the Long Narrative competition includes 14 films: A Tale in Damascus (Syria), Beirut Holdem (Lebanon), I Cassomortari (Italy), Insurrection (Tunisia), Luger (Greece), Mother Lode (France, Italy, Switzerland), Planeta (Spain, USA), Sava (Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia), Soula (France, Algeria), The Conversation (Croatia), The Merchandise (Morocco), The Rumble of the World (Greece), The Space Among Us (Slovenia) and The White Fortress (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada).
Headed by Egyptian director Khairy Beshara, the jury of the Narrative Competition includes Bosnian director Miroslav Mandić, French director Brice Cauvin, Italian director Giuliana Gamba and Syrian actor Ahmed Al-Ahmed.
Twenty one films are competing in the Short Film competition. The jury of the Short Film competition is headed by Montenegrin critic Maja Bogojevic and includes Greek director Maria Lafi, Italian director Enrico Cerasuolo, Egyptian director Hala Khalil and Tunisian director Chaqra Rammah.
Many films will be screened as part of the Panorama programme. In addition, there will be screenings of films participating in unofficial competitions such as Nour El-Sherif Competition for Arabic Feature Films, Student Films Competition, Mamduh El-Laithy Scriptwriting Competition and Youth Short Film Fund Competition.
Tunisia Programme
With Tunisia as the guest of honour, the festival is honouring Tunisian producer Hassan Daldoul for producing the first Tunisian-Egyptian film. It is also honouring Tunisian producer Lassaad Goubantini for being among the biggest distributors for Egyptian films in Tunisia.
The programme also includes holding a Tunisian-Egyptian cinema photo exhibition, as well screening a number of Tunisian films like Rebëlote Machki w’ Âoued (2020) and other rare films.
In addition to surveying critics on the best 100 comedy films, the festival will also see the publication of a number of books by important authors like Walid Seif, Atef Beshay, Tarek El-shennawi and Ahmed Saad El-din.
The festival is organised by the Egyptian Association of Cinema Authors and Critics headed by its president El-amir Abaza who is celebrating 10 years as manager of the festival.
The AFFMC is sponsored by the Egyptian ministries of Culture, Tourism and Social Solidarity, as well as Alexandria Governorate and many private companies.
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