Veteran Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy was named on Wednesday as the new president of the Cairo International Film Festival, taking over from film producer and screenwriter Mohamed Hefzy, who held the position for four years during which several of his productions sparked controversy.
The decision to replace Hefzy, who is widely credited for revamping the festival after its fell into disorder following years of political turbulence in Egypt, came from the country's Culture Minister Ines Abdeldayem, who issued a statement thanking Hefzy for his hard work and wishing him success in his future endeavours.
Abdeldayem said the festival will also hold an inauguration ceremony for its new president, and that this will become a new tradition for the event. Both the departing president and the newcomer will attend the ceremony each year as one hands over the baton to the other, she said.
“I am proud to have served as CIFF's president for the past four years. I hope that my and my brilliant team’s work has accomplished our goal of making CIFF a reputable festival on a local, regional and international level and turning it into an important platform for independent cinema, both in Egypt and the Arab world,” Hefzy said.
Hefzy’s long-time support of independent cinema has often put him at odds with Egypt’s more conservative commentators.
Last year, two films he produced were widely criticised for misrepresenting Egypt and its cultural ethics. The first was Feathers, which, though critically acclaimed abroad, sparked widespread criticism in Egypt over its depiction of extreme poverty, particularly in its less developed agricultural provinces.
Hefzy then came under fire again after the release of the Arab remake of Perfect Strangers, an Italian film which has been adapted into a number of languages. The Arab remake was produced by Film Clinic, which Hefzy founded and has headed since 2005.
The film was accused of promoting same-sex relationships and adultery as well as “offending Egyptian family values.”
Fahmy, 81, has starred in more than 100 Egyptian films which span over five decades. He previously served as Cairo International Film Festival's president between 1998 to 2001.
Starting his career in the early 1970s, Fahmy went on to become one of the decade's quintessential heart-throbs. His European look, with blue eyes and blonde hair, was in direct contrast with most Egyptian leading males at the time.
Fahmy, who is also noted for his humanitarian works, holds a master's degree in fine arts from UCLA and has served as a United Nations goodwill ambassador.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Other ways to buy used products in the UAE
UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.
Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.
Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.
For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.
Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.
At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
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Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
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