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Al-Ahram Weekly

Egypt's presence shines at Rotterdam Arab Film Festival

Egypt's prominent presence at the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival (RAFF, 28 May–1 June) is highlighted by Salwa Mohamed Aly as jury member, Laila Elwy as guest of honour, Um Kolthoum special tribute, among others. Under the banner of 'Year of Women', the 25th edition of RAFF shines a spotlight on women's contributions to cinema. Salwa Mohamed Aly Egyptian actress Salwa Mohamed Aly will serve as a jury member for the Short Film Competition. Aly rose to prominence portraying Khala Khayreya, a central character in the beloved children's television show Alam Simsim. She later worked with Disney Arabic, voicing numerous animated characters. In the 2000s, she took on a series of prominent, though secondary, roles in many critically acclaimed films and television series. Often dubbed "the queen of secondary roles" — frequently cast as the protagonist's mother or best friend — Aly established herself as one of the finest actresses of her generation, portraying strong, multifaceted women on screen. In recent years, she has served on juries for several film festivals, further cementing her position in the industry. Laila Elwy This year's Guest of Honour is Egyptian actress Laila Elwy, who will be celebrated with a screening of Keep Calm and Listen (dir. Sherif Arafa, 1991). Born to an Egyptian father and a Greek mother, Elwy has appeared in over 70 films and has been honoured at Egyptian and international festivals. With a career spanning more than four decades, she made her cinematic debut in Min Agl Al-Haya (1977) and gained early acclaim with Kharag wa Lam Ya'oud (1985). Her notable works include El-Harafesh (1986), Al-Massir (1997), Lahazat Harega (Critical Moments, 2007), Shams (2014), and Brooks, Meadows and Lovely Faces (2016). Elwy has also left her mark on television, with acclaimed performances in series such as Al-'Aaila (The Family), Alf Leyla wa Leyla (One Thousand and One Nights), and the award-winning mini-series Magnoon Laila (2009). Among the festival's special guests is Egyptian actress Hana Shiha, who rose to fame after co-starring with Elwy in Khaled El-Haggar's 2004 film Girls' Love. Now 39, Shiha remains a prominent figure in the Egyptian film industry. A tribute to Um Kolthoum The festival's opening ceremony will honour legendary singer Um Kolthoum (1898–1975), marking 50 years since her passing. The tribute includes a live performance by the Marmoucha Orchestra, The Phonograph Changed Me, featuring Lebanese musician Toni Geitani. The concert will revisit Um Kolthoum's early works and offer a unique reinterpretation of her legacy. Before the performance, Geitani will join Dutch author Willem Bruls to discuss the singer's earliest influences and the cultural roots of her enduring impact. In addition, Um Kolthoum's 1942 film Aida (directed by Ahmed Badrakhan) will be screened as part of the tribute. Famed for her deep, resonant voice, Um Kolthoum captivated the Arab world for decades with a repertoire that included religious and patriotic anthems and poetic love songs. Egyptian films in and out of competition Two Egyptian films, Perfumed with Mint by Mohamed Hamdy and Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo by Khaled Mansour, will compete in the feature film category. The Short Film Competition features six Egyptian titles: Last Nights of Summer (Fatema Yasser), Love Bites (Mahmoud Zein), Madonna (John Fareed Zaki), We Are in Need of Cosmic Help (Ahmed Emad), For Our Relationship to Complete (Bishoy Kamel), and I Belong to You (Amina Abdel-Ghany). The Egyptian-Tunisian co-production The Life That Remains — the directorial debut of Tunisian actress Dorra Zarrouk — will compete in the Documentary Film segment. Women Who Loved Cinema (2002) by Marianne Khoury and When We're Born (2019) by Tamer Ezzat will also be screened out of competition. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, RAFF is also dedicating a special section to Palestine, featuring four Palestinian films. One of Europe's oldest and fastest-growing festivals dedicated to Arab cinema, RAFF continues to showcase powerful storytelling from the MENA region, including many award-winning titles. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link: