Egyptian feature film "Photocopy", directed by Tamer Ashry, has received the City of Malmö´s Audience Award at the 8th edition of the Malmö Arab Film Festival (MAFF), which took place in the Swedish city 5-9 October,

Written by Haitham Dabbour and starring veteran actor Mahmoud Hemeida alongside Sherin Reda, Ali Tayeb, Ahmed Dash, Farah Yousef and Bayoumi Fouad, Photocopy received the 2,500 Euros value prize via the festival's jury, that included Egyptian actress Menna Shalaby. The decision was announced Tuesday at Royal Cinema in Malmo.

MAFF honoured Egyptian cinema this year with two movies screened in the opening and closing nights, in addition to two other films and a seminar about Egyptian cinema.

The Egyptian feature film Talq Senay, or Induced Labour, was screened on the opening night, while Karim El-Shenawy's Eyar Nari, or Gunshot, was screened on the closing night, in addition to Photocopy and Kiss Me Not, directed by Ahmed Amer, screened during the event.

"Egyptian cinema has been one of the most important cultural tributaries that have shaped the thoughts of millions of Arabs over generations in more than a century," stated the MAFF on their official website, praising its "huge heritage" as "the oldest cinema in the Arab world, and even the planet."

Despite that Photocopy took the only award, Egypt was competing strongly in all competitions, with Egyptian film Poisonous Roses, directed by Ahmed Fawzi Saleh, participating in the long feature competition, while Noha Adel's Into Reverse competed in the shorts section.

Directed by Lebanese Reem Saleh, What Comes Around competed in the long documentary category while Youssef Nasser's Sculpting In Time and Mohammad Homouda's Manicure competed in the short documentary category.

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Photocopy focuses on a retired man in Cairo who begins to learn about the extinction of dinosaurs. This sets off a series of events that will give his life renewed meaning.

Photocopy garnered several awards, including the Gouna Star for Best Arab Feature Narrative from the El-Gouna Film Festival where the film premiered.

It went on to receive the Best Feature Narrative Award at the Tripoli Film Festival in Lebanon, and Best Scriptwriting at the Ohran Arab Film Festival.

MAFF was founded in 2011 by general manager and artistic director Mouhamad Keblawi, and grew to become one of the largest Arab film festivals and platforms for Arab culture in the world.

The event is the largest film festival in southern Sweden, which also includes exhibitions, workshops, seminars, and celebrations. It screened around 120 feature films, documentaries, and short films.



MAFF awards were announced as follows:

Short Film Competition

Best Short Filmfor “Last Days of the Man of Tomorrow” by Fadi Baki from Lebanon

Special Jury Award for “Black Mamba” by Amel Guellaty from Tunisia

Special Mention to “Occupation: Killer” by Walid Ayoub from Morocco

Documentary Competition

Best Documentary Award for “Upon the Shadow” by Nada Mezni Hafaiedh from Tunisia

Short Documentary Competition

Best Short Documentary Award for “Survivors of Firdos Square” by Adel Khaled from Iraq

Feature Competition

Best Feature for “Wajib” by Annemarie Jacir from Palestine

Special Jury Award for “Volubilis” by Faouzi Bensaidi from Morocco

Best Director for “Mohamed Al Daradji” from Iraq for his film “The Journey”

Best Actor for “Ali Yehiawi” from Tunisia for his exceptional performance in “Benzine” by Sarra Abidi

Best Actress for “Zahraa Ghandour” from Iraq for his exceptional performance in “The Journey” by Mohamed Al Daradji

The City of Malmö´s Audience Award at MAFF for “Photocopy” by Tamer Ashry from Egypt (25,000 SEK; approx 2,500 Euros)

“Best Artistic Production Award” presented by the General Union of Arab Artists obtained by “Guest: Aleppo – Istanbul” (2,000 Euros)

“Arab Critics Award” presented by “Al Nahar” newspaper for “Wajib” by Annemarie Jacir (1,000 Euros)

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