29-04-2025
Ahmed Helmy Takes the Spotlight in Sweden as Malmö Festival Honors His Legacy
Ahmed Helmy.
The 15th edition of the Malmö Arab Film Festival launches today, Tuesday, in the Swedish city of Malmö.
The grand opening will begin with a red carpet ceremony at the prestigious Royal Cinema—one of Sweden's largest theaters—offering the public a chance to meet and celebrate with a host of Arab film stars and creators.
The festival has become a cultural landmark and a proud part of Malmö's identity.
The opening ceremony will be attended by Malmö's Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Cultural Committee, Jan Grönholm, who will also present an honorary award to celebrated Egyptian actor Ahmed Helmy, alongside the festival's founder and director, Mohamed Keblawi.
On Monday, ahead of the launch, many festival guests arrived in Malmö, including Ahmed Helmy, Mariam Shereef, Sabry Fawaz, director Karim El Shenawy, screenwriter Haitham Dabbour, and Khaled Abdel Galil.
Tonight's program features the screening of the Palestinian film Ahlam 'Abera (Passing Dreams) by acclaimed director Rashid Masharawi.
A co-production between Palestine, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and France, the film follows 12-year-old Sami on a day-and-night journey with his uncle and cousin in search of his lost homing pigeon—a tale of hope, memory, and belonging.
