Luxor African Film Festival Celebrates Pioneers of Directing and Dedicates Its Edition to the Centenary of Youssef Chahine

The Luxor African Film Festival is preparing to honor a select group of pioneers in directing at its fifteenth edition, scheduled to take place in Luxor from March 29 to April 4, with wide cinematic participation from 32 countries.

A Special Tribute to the Centenary of Youssef Chahine

The new edition is held under the slogan celebrating the Egyptian global director Youssef Chahine, coinciding with the centenary of his birth, where a special program will highlight his cinematic experience that combined human themes and artistic boldness, along with his interest in issues of identity and freedom.

The program includes the publication of a documentary book about his career titled "Youssef Chahine: A Child's Perspective... and the Rebel's Grip" by critic Ibrahim Al-Arees, in addition to organizing a main seminar and an exhibition featuring posters of his films at various stages of his artistic journey.

Honoring Prominent Names in Directing and Acting

The festival will honor several icons of Arab and African cinema, including Egyptian director Dawood Abdel Sayed, Algerian director Lakhdar Hamina, and Malian director Souleymane Cissé, along with a tribute to the late Algerian artist Biyouna.
It will also include honoring a group of contemporary artists and filmmakers, including Khaled El Sawy, Riham Abdel Ghafour, and director Mohamed Amin, in addition to South African director Ntshaveni Wa Luruli, director and writer Danny Gwayati, and director and producer Jamal Souissi.

South Africa as the Guest of Honor for the New Edition

South Africa will be the guest of honor for this edition, with a special program showcasing the history of cinema there and the development of its industry, along with the re-release of a reference book titled "Cinema in South Africa" by film critic Martin Botha.

A Festival that Enhances African Cinematic Communication

The festival aims to support cultural and cinematic exchange between African and Arab countries, highlighting creative experiences that reflect the cultural and artistic diversity of the continent, as well as honoring the pioneers of the film industry and showcasing their artistic achievements.