Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem thanked Mohamed Hefzy for developing the festival in the past four editions, according to a statement released by the ministry on Tuesday.

Abdel-Dayem will be leading a ceremony to transfer the presidency over to Fahmy in the coming days, the statement added.

Previously the president of the CIFF from 1998 to 2001, the multi-awarded actor starred in over 125 films as well as tens of TV series, Radio series, and plays.

Among Fahmy’s most significant films are ‘Khally Balak Min Zozo’ (1972), ‘Amira Hobby Ana’ (1975), ‘Layla Baka Fiha El-Qamar’ (1980), ‘El-A’ar’ (1982), ‘Gary El-Wohoush’ (1987), ‘Eskendereya Kaman wi Kaman’ (1990), ‘El-Lea’b Ma’a El-Kobar’ (1991), and most recently ‘El-Kahen’ (2021).