“I have been previously honoured in different regional and international film festivals, yet I find it very special to receive the honorary Lifetime Achievement Award from Cairo International Film Festival. This award is every Egyptian actor’s dream and I am delighted to stand on the festival’s stage as one of its honourees,” Lebleba said.
Lebleba was selected for her extensive career. She started at the age of five imitating celebrities and became one of the most renowned Egyptian cinema stars with more than 200 songs, and over 60 films, TV drama hits, and plays.
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“Lebleba has devotedly contributed to the Egyptian cinema and TV drama as one of the most recognisable Egyptian celebrities throughout her career,” stated CIFF President Hussein Fahmy. He added that “since the early years of her professional journey, Lebleba has dedicated her life to the filmmaking industry through her versatile work. Personally, I am honoured that I have been part of her long-standing career, starring alongside her in several films,” the evergreen star added.
Ninochka Manoug Kupelian, better known by her stage name Lebleba, is an Egyptian actress, singer, and entertainer of Armenian descent, belonging to the same artistic family featuring the iconic stars Fayrouz who has been dubbed “the Miracle Child” and legendary actress and entertainer Nelly who received the CIFF’s Lifetime Achievement Award during the festival’s 43rd edition last year.
Throughout her long career, Lebleba has collaborated with generations of the finest crews in the Egyptian cinema, pairing with legendary stars Adel Emam, Omar Sharif, Samir Ghanem, Ahmed Zaki, Mohamed Sobhy, Nour El-Sherif, and Mahmoud Hemida, as well as younger stars Mohamed Henidy, Mohamed Saad, Karim Abdel-Aziz and almost all others.
She appeared in important works of multiple generations of directors from Neyazi Mostafa, Anwar Wagdy, and Hassan El-Seifi to Hossam Eldin Moustafa, Hassan El-Emam, Hussein Kamal, Mohamed Abdel-Aziz, in addition to Nader Galal, Samir Seif, Atef El-Tayeb, Osama Fawzy, Salah Abu Seif and Youssef Shahin, as well as Rami Emam, Omar AbdelAziz, Wael Ehsan, Ahmed El-Badri and Marwan Hamed.
Among Lebleba’s most significant films are Mouled ya Donia (1975), Esabet Hamada w Toutou (1982), El-Shaytana Alti Ahabatni (1990), Ded El-Hokouma (1992), Leila Sakhena (1995), Ganet El-Shayateen (1999) Eskendria Newyork (2004), Bouha (2005), Wesh Egram (2006), Hassan w Morkos (2008) and Blue Elephant (2014), to name but a few.
“Lebleba is a valuable asset to any film director, as her spontaneity, charisma, and unrivaled ability to switch from comedies to heart-wrenching dramas has given depth to her roles in any films, which strongly attracted massive audiences across the Arab world throughout the years,” commented CIFF Director Amir Ramses.
At the 44th edition, Hungarian director Béla Tarr will also receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, in addition to director Kamla Abouzekri who will receive the Faten Hamama Award of Excellence.
The CIFF is one of the oldest festivals in the Arab world and Africa. It is the only festival in the region classified in the A category by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations.
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