Sandeep Marwah Honoured at 33 Cairo International Film Festival

New Delhi, Nov 15 (ANI) An expansive flurry of fireworks, accompanied by a group of baldsilver-painted ladies and a hotel lobby tribute band, greeted tens of guests from more than 70 nations arriving for the opening ceremony of the Cairo International Film Festival’s 33rd edition, which kicked offTuesday night.
Hollywood actress Salma Hayek described Egypt as her “good luck charm.”The simple ceremony commenced with a little dance number, designed by Lebanese choreographer Walid Aouni, featuring three of the aforementioned bald women, dressed in red, blue and green,representing the RGB/additive color model.The ceremony’s hosts, actors Donia Samir Ghanem and Amr Waked, presented the festival president, Ezzat Abou Ouf, who began his speech by announcing that the fest’s honorary president, “I welcome you all in Cairo to celebrate another year of magic,” Abou Ouf said. “Every year, we choose a country to shine a spotlight on their cinema. This year, allow me to welcome one of the biggest cinemamakers in the world, our dear friends from India.”I am proud to introduce the producer of largest number of short films in the World and President of Asian Academy Of Film & TV said sandeep Marwah to the film fertinety of the World along with AdoorGopalaKrishan, Boney Kapoor and Sridevi from India announced the president of the festival.The Digital Competition for Feature Films jury, headed by Nigerian director Victor Okhai, were presented next, followed by the Arab Competition jury, headed by veteran Egyptian actor Yehia El-Fakharany,and the International Competition jury, headed by eminent Indian director Adoor Gopalakrishnan.India’s ambassador to Egypt, R. Swaminathan, was then invited on stage. “We are greatly honored by the invitation extended to India as the guest country of the festival,” the ambassador said.”Indian cinema has enjoyed immense popularity in Egypt since the 1960s, since Raj Kapoor’s ‘Sangam’ captured the hearts of many Egyptians. Thereafter, the films of Amitabh Bachchan gained a huge following. Let me assure you that we have many talented actors and directors in India, and the films screened in the festival are a testimony to that,” Swaminathan added.Egypt’s Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni, followed Swaminathan to inaugurate the 33rd edition and dedicate it to late great Egyptian filmmaker Shadi Abdel Salam. Abdel Salam’s sister, Mahiba, received aspecial award on behalf of her brother for his contribution to Egyptian cinema.Great Italian director Marco Bellocchio was the first of four international stars to receive the lifetime achievement award. Lucy Liu, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek rounded off the last groupof honourees.”Today I have realised that your honest and hard work will never go waste, I am excited with this World recognition at Cairo” said Sandeep Marwah. (ANI)

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