Alexandria Film Fest Postponed Due to October War Anniversary

The administration of the 29th Alexandria and Mediterranean Countries Film Festival has decided to postpone the launch of their festival from October 9th to the 14th, in deference to the celebrations of the fortieth anniversary of the October War, which Alexandria governor Major General Tarek el Mahdi declared would be major national celebration.

In a statement, the festival administration announced that it the first seminar/symposium of the festival would be titled “The Epic of the Crossing: Why Wasn't It Captured Cinematically?” in which the military expert will participate as well as cinematographer Mahmoud Abdel Samea, director and cinematographer Saeed Shimi, the great director Daoud Abdel Sayed, who all filmed war operations, and writer Magdy Saber.

The festival is screening a selection of films about the war and the soldiers who crossed the Suez Canal in a collaboration with the army’s Morale Affairs Department and the National Cinema Center. Some of these films include “6 Sa’aat” (Six Hours) written by Saad el Din Wahba and directed by Khalil Shoqy, “Msafer el Shamal, Msafer el Genoub” (Traveling North, Traveling South) written and directed by Samir Aouf, “Abtal min Masr” (The Heroes from Egypt) written and directed by Samir Aouf, “Geyoush el Shams” (Armies of the Sun) written and directed by Shady Abdel Salam, “Sa’id el Dababat” (Tank Hunter) directed by Khairy Beshara, and additionally some films produced by the Morale Affairs Department itself.

The festival has weathered vicious attacks launched by critic Tarek el Shennawi, who wrote a number of articles accusing the Minister of Culture Mohamed Saber Arab of duplicity, referring to his decision to cancel the 36th Cairo International Festival in light of the tense political events in Egypt at the time, while still running the Alexandria festival facing the same circumstances and events.

The Alex festival was originally scheduled to take place from September 11 until September 16.