Orizonti Jury members Frederic Bonnaud, Fatemeh Motamed-Aria, Mohamed Hefzy, president of the jury Athina Tsangari, jury members Michael Almereyda, Alison Maclean and Andrea Pallaoro walk the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony and the 'First Man' screening during the 75th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 29, 2018 in Venice, Italy. Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images
Orizonti Jury members Frederic Bonnaud, Fatemeh Motamed-Aria, Mohamed Hefzy, president of the jury Athina Tsangari, jury members Michael Almereyda, Alison Maclean and Andrea Pallaoro walk the red carpShow more

Mohamed Hefzy aims to steer the course of Egyptian cinema with more human stories



Mohamed Hefzy sits in a wicker armchair in the garden of the Hotel Quattro Fontane to talk to The National about his jury duty in the Orizzonti ­section of the Venice International Film Festival. In March, the maverick Egyptian producer was appointed president of the Cairo International Film Festival, which has been running annually since 1976.

While Hefzy was in Venice on duty with fellow jury members, including American filmmaker Michael Almereyda, Italian writer and director Andrea Pallaoro and jury president Athina Tsangari, he admits he's wearing a few different hats. Hefzy was also paying close attention to one of the projects he had produced – Certified Mail by Hisham Saqr – which participated in Final Cut – a post-­production support platform for African and Middle Eastern films, as part of the Venice festival.

The Egyptian producer returns to his roots as a writer, when the script he wrote back in 2009 begins filming in Egypt in a few days. "The working title is New Year's Eve; it's set the year before the 2011 revolution, on the Egyptian Red Sea in an upscale resort, and depicts one day in the lives of various characters that come from opposite social backgrounds," Hefzy explains. The film, directed by debut filmmaker Mohamed Sakr, digs into the gradual disappearance of a ­proper middle class in Egypt, because that is what gives a society "its identity and values", according to Hefzy. He hopes it will make us rethink "our perception of what Egyptian society is today".

However, does he feel pressure as the new president of the Cairo International Film Festival? “Cairo is also a festival with a big pedigree and a lot of history,” the Egyptian producer explains. Instead, he says, “the pressure comes from a different place – it comes from trying to stage a big festival that shows 150 films, does something for the industry, invites filmmakers and press and, at the same time, we are trying to survive on a very limited budget which is financed by the Ministry of Culture.”

And that is all on top of trying to drum up private sector support for the festival. And there’s also competition in the making with the El Gouna Film Festival, which Hefzy has also shown his support for from the start, bringing some of his projects there during the festival’s debut last year.

“They have a really great team,” he admits, one which includes former Abu Dhabi Film Festival programmer Intishal Al Timimi as artistic director. “It’s funny,” he says, “a lot of people think I run the El Gouna Film Festival!” The producer recently posted an online disclaimer stating that he doesn’t work with the festival.

“We compete for the Egyptian premiere for films, sometimes we compete for the Middle East premiere for competition films, for sponsors and for projects sometimes, in our co-­production markets – but at the same time, we also exchange information and support each other in a way.”

Hefzy admits it is “a friendly and healthy competition.” With all these festivals in the region, which this year will include the highly anticipated return of the Marrakech International Film Festival, which will run following the festival in Cairo. He is confident they can “complement each other and offer more support for the film industry.”

The Cairo International Film Festival has definitely seen quite a few changes at the top over the past few years and the producer admits he plans to stay on for three years in his mandate as president. “I’m not expecting everything to go right from my first year in charge, it’s a turnaround that will take two or three years,” continuing that his work there, “has to start by dealing with some of the issues we had in the past few years and a lot of these were related to the situation in Egypt in general and in our world,” he explains.

I ask him about the initiatives and strategies he is helping to bring to Cairo. “One we are going to announce soon is a midnight section for a genre films. We are working on a non-­competitive virtual reality section; we have already announced our industry initiatives and are really focused on a revamped Cairo Film Connection, a bigger one – more projects, money and support and better projects.

“We’ve announced two workshops, including one with Screen Buzz for which we’re bringing several showrunners from the United States to train TV writers to improve their skills.”

Hefzy is considered to be part of a new wave of Egyptian cinema professionals who promise to tell human stories, while staying away from politics. Abu Bakr Shawky's comedy film Yomeddine, which debuted in competition at Cannes this year, is one example. The film tells the story of a Coptic leper and his orphaned apprentice who leave the confines of the leper colony for the first time to embark on a journey across Egypt in search of what is left of their families. The producer describes the choice to feature a first-time filmmaker in the prestigious section of the festival "a brave programming decision from [artistic director] Thierry Fremaux," and admits "Cannes is still the number one festival if you're trying to bring a film to the world." Despite the film's mixed press reviews, Hefzy says: "I don't regret being in that theatre with 2,500 people for a 10-minute standing ovation – it was just fantastic!"

The Cairo International Film Festival runs from November 20 to 29. For more information, visit www.ciff.org.eg

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Read more:

'Al Hayba' director Samer Al Barkawi says the third season is well under way with Cyrine Abdelnour in the lead

The man who schooled Jack Ryan on the region

Palestinian director Sameh Zoabi: To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain and play with it

Syrian cinema wins big at the 2018 Venice Film Festival

Exclusive: 'La Haine' and 'Kite Runner' actor Said Taghmaoui in line to play Bond 25's lead villain

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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

SPECS
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The%20specs
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No more lice

Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital

Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind
Health Valley

Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further

Fight card

Bantamweight

Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)

Lightweight

Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)

Catch 74kg

Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)

Strawweight (Female)

Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)

Featherweight

Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)

Lightweight

Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)

Welterweight

Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)

Bantamweight

Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)

Lightweight

Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)

Lightweight

Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)

Welterweight

Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)

Featherweight title bout

Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Hamilton profile

Age 32

Country United Kingdom

Grands Prix entered 198

Pole positions 67

Wins 57

Podiums 110

Points 2,423

World Championships 3

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

WITHIN%20SAND
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Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

Company%20profile
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Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
Election pledges on migration

CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections" 

SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom" 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

RACE CARD

6.30pm Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

7.05pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m

7.40pm Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m

8.15pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m

8.50pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m

9.25pm Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

AndhaDhun

Director: Sriram Raghavan

Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18

Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan

Rating: 3.5/5

Quick%20facts
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