Egypt, guest country

Photo du film Tamantashar Yom (18 jours)

Amongst the innovations of the 2011 edition is the idea of welcoming a guest country to Cannes each year; Egypt will be the first country, chosen this year to begin the tradition.
Egypt will be welcomed in 2011 as a country who, through its revolution of January 25, has informed the world of its need to change the course of history and of its need for freedom, while demonstrating its collective strength and expressing its desire for democracy; it will also be welcomed as a country with a strong history in film, whose presence in Cannes has always been justified.

This day, when the late Youssef Chahine will be remembered, will serve to underline the strength of Egyptian cinema, which will be represented by directors, actors, producers and technicians.

This tribute to Egypt will take place on Wednesday May 18 and will unfold as follows:

– screening of 18 jours, a work grouping the short films of Sherif Arafa, Yousry Nasrallah, Mariam Abou Ouf, Marwan Hamed, Mohamed Aly, Kamla Abou Zikri, Sherif El Bendari, Khaled Marei, Ahmad Abdallah and Ahmad Alaa.

Ten film-makers, twenty actors, six writers, eight cameramen, eight sound engineers, five set-designers, three costume designers, seven film editors, three post-production companies and a dozen technicians filmed ten short film stories based on the January 25 revolution in Egypt, all under pressure, without a budget and on a totally voluntary basis. Ten stories they had either witnessed, heard or imagined. All profits from the film will be given towards the organisation of political and public education missions in Egyptian villages.

The screening will be followed by an official dinner organised as a tribute to Egypt, with many guests invited.

In addition :

– as part of the Cannes Classics selection : screening of a new copy of Facteur (Al Bostagui) by Hussein Kamal (Egypt, 1968)

– at the Cinéma de la Plage : screening of Le Cri d’une fourmi by Sameh Abdel Aziz (Egypt, 2011)

And finally a concert with a group of Egyptian musicians, West El Balad, will kick-start the “Fête des Sélections”, a party to be held for the Official Selection on May 18.

Special Screenings :

– Plus jamais peur by Mourad Ben Cheikh (Tunisia), a documentary about the Tunisian revolution. A delegation of Egyptian film-makers will also take part in the opening night upon the invitation of French Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand.

– The Big Fix by Josh Tickell (USA), a documentary produced by Peter Fonda.

School Screenings for secondary pupils:

– Les Hommes Libres by Ismäel Ferrouki (Morocco/France) with Michael Lonsdale and Tahar Rahim

– Prodigies an 3D animation film by Antoine Charreyron