Latest news with #LuxorAfricanFilmFestival
Egypt Today
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Luxor African Film Festival to Celebrate the Centennial of Youssef Chahine in Landmark 15th Edition
The Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) is gearing up for a spectacular 15th edition, set to take place in the last week of March 2026 under the powerful theme: 'Youssef Chahine… An Egyptian Tale.' This special edition honors the centennial of iconic Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine (1926–2026), whose groundbreaking work left an indelible mark on Arab and global cinema. Festival President and screenwriter Sayed Fouad revealed that this tribute will include a bilingual (Arabic-French) documentary book chronicling Chahine's cinematic journey and a captivating video art exhibition showcasing rare photographs and vintage posters. Four of his most celebrated, newly restored films—revived by Misr International Films—will take center stage in Luxor and across African countries throughout 2026. In parallel, the festival will honor key collaborators from Chahine's filmography, making this centennial celebration a continent-wide homage to his enduring legacy. Festival Director Azza Elhosseiny also announced a reimagined 'Special Focus' program spotlighting South African cinema, with four landmark films and a reissue of a pivotal book tracing the nation's cinematic evolution. This year's edition will also pay heartfelt tribute to the late Malian auteur Souleymane Cissé (1940–2025), a towering figure in African cinema and a longtime friend of LAFF. A dedicated bulletin and retrospective will honor his remarkable contributions to the art form, including his award-winning works that once graced Cannes and other international festivals. Since its inception in 2011, LAFF has been a vibrant bridge between Egypt and the rest of Africa, championing the continent's rich cinematic heritage through curated screenings, cross-border programs, and institutional collaborations. Organized by the Independent Artists Youth Foundation, with actor Mahmoud Hemida as honorary president and producer-distributor Gaby Khoury heading the high committee, the festival is backed by Egypt's Ministries of Culture, Tourism & Antiquities, Foreign Affairs, and Youth & Sports. Key partners include the National Bank of Egypt, Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, Kemet for Peace and Knowledge, Afreximbank, the Syndicate of Cinematic Professions, and Luxor Governorate.
CairoScene
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Luxor African Film Festival to Celebrate 100 Years of Youssef Chahine
The 15th LAFF will honour the Egyptian filmmaker with movies, exhibits and panels in partnership with the Ministry of Culture. May 25, 2025 The Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) has announced that its 15th edition, scheduled for February 2026, will feature a special tribute marking the centenary of legendary Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine's birth. The announcement was made by festival president Sayed Fouad and director Azza Elhosseiny. Backed by the Ministry of Culture and organised by the Independent Shabab Foundation, the festival will host a dedicated programme that includes curated screenings of Chahine's films, exhibitions, and panel discussions focusing on his legacy in both African and Arab cinema. Born in Alexandria in 1926, Youssef Chahine became one of Egypt's most influential directors, with a career spanning more than five decades and titles such as 'Cairo Station', 'The Land', and 'Alexandria... Why?' His work gained international recognition, including at the Cannes Film Festival, where he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. LAFF, which has become a central platform for African filmmakers, continues to spotlight cultural connections across the continent through cinema. Full programming details and the list of participating countries are expected to be announced in the coming months.
