Coming Forth by Day's Cinematographer Awarded Special Mention from Thessaloniki

CinematographerMahmoud Lotfy was awarded a SpecialMention For Cinematography, for his work on the Hala Lotfy film" Al-Khoroug Lel-Nahar” (Coming Forth by Day)by the jury of Thessaloniki Film Festival, which was headed by theAmerican director Alexander Payne.

Thefilm, which was awarded the Black Pearl award for best Arab film atthe Abu Dhabi Film Festival, competed with 13 other films for the54thThessaloniki top prize, on a festival run of 10 days startingNovember 1st.Coming Forth by Day tells the story of a small family livingin one of Cairo's poor districts,consisting of a dyingfather, a mother who works as a nurse and a daughter who suffers froma still and pale life at the age of 30, not being able to achieve herdreams or even have a happy romance, while only having to take careof her father in shifts accompanied by the sound of Om-Kulthum.

Thefilm was recently chosen among 100 films that were listed as the mostimportant from the Arab world in history by Dubai Film Festival. Itlanded at number 94. The film was Hala Lotfy's debut feature.

Ahmed Abdallah, who also participated in the festival with his loatest film“ Farsh wa Ghatta” (Rags and Tatters), revealed on his Twitterthat Coming Forth by Day will be released in Egyptian theaters soon,saying: “Mahmoud Lotfy, "Al-KhorougLel-Nahar's”greatcinematographer was awarded a special mention at Thessaloniki. It's agreat film, that will be released soon.”

Mohamed Khan's upcoming film “ Fatat Al Masna'” (The Factory Girl) also participated in the festival'sfilm market (Agora) for post-production funds. The film is expectedto premier in the next round of Dubai Film Festival.