This is the first time the City of Dortmund and the Egyptian embassy in Berlin have collaborated to organise such an event.
The City of Dortmund invited El Kedwany, who attended the opening, as a special guest of honour. The event featured a screening of Hepta, in which El Kedwany plays a leading role. The screening was attended by a large audience, including members of the Egyptian and Arab communities in Dortmund and German cinephiles, who engaged actively in the post-screening discussions.
Egyptian artist and cultural organiser Mohamed Zaki Murad (based in Germany) organised the event, which was graced by the presence of Mr. Amin Hassan, Consul General of Egypt in Frankfurt, Dr. Sameh Sarour, Cultural Counselor at the Egyptian Embassy in Berlin, Mr. Jürgen Studtmann, Cultural Director of the City of Dortmund, and Ms. Kramer, Mayor of West Dortmund.
The screening hall witnessed vibrant discussions with Majed El Kedwany about Hepta and Egyptian cinema's past, present, and future. Participants explored the strong role of Egyptian art as a form of soft power, capable of fostering connections with international audiences and strengthening bonds with Egyptian and Arab diasporas around the world.
Maged El Kedwany expressed his joy at being part of such a meaningful event, particularly appreciating the deep and thoughtful dialogue with the audience regarding the cultural and social value of Egyptian art and artists within migrant communities.
For his part, Mohamed Zaki Murad, the event's organiser, noted the strong engagement from the German side, which he said encourages further cultural cooperation in the future. He also expressed his gratitude for the support from the Egyptian Cultural Counselor, praising the collaborative efforts with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the film production companies that contributed to the event.
As part of Egyptian Film Days, classic Egyptian films such as The Black Tiger, My Wife is the General Manager, and Cairo 30 are being screened. The event also featured a short documentary highlighting the preparations and construction work undertaken by the Egyptian government for the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
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