The award winning Spanish actress Maribel Verdu was announced as one of the guests of honour at the upcoming Aswan Women’s Film Festival.

Headed by Egyptian actress Elham Shahin, the first Aswan Women's Film Festival will take place in February and showcase local and international films with women filling primary roles, directed by women, or focusing on women's issues.

Scriptwriter Mohamed Abdelkhalek, director of the festival, highlighted how having Verdu at the festival will be a great asset for the festival’s first round. He added that the festival hopes to “build bridges of trust and cooperation” with international stars and film institutions.

Sherif Awad, the festival’s head of international affairs, said that Verdu seemed happy to be invited to the festival and to Egypt, which will be her first visit.

He highlighted that “Verdu is an acclaimed star with a long cinematic repertoire of over 60 films since 1984.”

Verdu was born in Madrid, and began acting at the young age of 13.

Most of her films are Spanish, but she is best known to English-speaking audiences for her roles in Guillermo del Toro's 2006 film Pan's Labyrinth, and Alfonso Cuarón's 2001 film Y tu mamá también (And Your Mother Too).

She has received over 20 awards, including best actress from the prestigious Goya Awards for her role in Blancanieves in 2012, in addition to nine other Goya nominations. She also won a best actress award from Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Ghent International Film Festival, José María Forqué Awards, among others.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture