Feature: Egypt sends world message of peace through Cairo Film Festival

"The festival is so wonderful. It's a message to the whole world that Egypt is safe and secure and a strong reply to those raising doubts about Egypt's security," Egyptian prominent movie star Safiya al-Emary told Xinhua at the Opera House during the opening ceremony of the 37th session of Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF).

The VIP entrance of the main gate of the Opera House led to the red carpet in the main yard of the short building with colorful laser lights coming out of its two domes and pink light reflection covering the front of the building.

Movie stars, mostly Egyptians, came in one by one amid crowds of photographers and reporters, while the two large monitors displayed clips of Egyptian and international iconic movies in the cinema industry.

The 37th CIFF features more than 100 movies from all over the world, with 16 of them contesting in the International Competition, including two Egyptian movies, El-Lila El-Kebira (Grand Night) and Min Dahr Ragel (Born to a Man).

"As one of the cast of Grand Night, I say it is an amazing film with such a variety of artists that it has a good chance to be awarded in this festival," Emary told Xinhua, adding that the well-made realistic movies about the Egyptian society can qualify them for international awards.

The 2011 and 2013 CIFF editions have been cancelled for security reasons, as they coincided with the ouster of two heads of state in the most populous Arab country, known among Arabs as Hollywood of the East.

Held from Nov. 11 to Nov. 20, the 37th CIFF comes a few days after some countries suspended their flights to Egypt's popular Red Sea resort Sharm el-Sheikh resort and evacuated their nationals over security concerns in the wake of a Russian plane crash that killed all 224 people on board in late October. The move added more recession to Egypt's already-suffering tourism sector.

"The festival proves that Egypt is safe and secure with all its institutions working well, including the Culture Ministry organizing this event," Egyptian actor Hamdy al-Wazir told Xinhua while entering the main hall of the opening ceremony.

"The CIFF is one of the most important world film festivals, and I am very optimistic that the Egyptian cinema will soon restore its glory," Wazir added, arguing that the Egyptian film industry is still stumbling over the past few years due to the country's political and social conditions

For his part, author and novelist Youssef al-Qaeed said that the festival is "a good and important artistic phenomenon that Egypt needs during such difficult circumstances," noting that the Egyptian cinema is eventually recovering.

The festival's opening film is Jonathan Demme's Ricki and the Flash, an American rock-and-roll movie written by Diablo Cody and starring Meryl Streep, whose performance has been highly praised by critics.

The festival foreign hosts were not many compared to previous editions, yet Italian actress Caludia Cardinale was there to receive Faten Hamama honorary award, named after Egyptian late prolific actress whose picture is the icon of the 37th CIFF logo.

"I hope tourists will return to Egypt... we must fight in order for people to return to Egypt, a beautiful country I adore," Cardinale told a crowded press conference at the Opera House ahead of receiving the Faten Hamama award.

Naguib al-Hassan, a Tunisian actor, attended the opening ceremony although Tunisia does not seem to compete in the festival. "This is my second time to attend the CIFF. I am very happy to be here in Egypt; the people are really so friendly," he told Xinhua.

Hassan said that such tragic accidents like the recent plane crash in Sinai could happen anywhere in the world, expecting tourists to return to Egypt in a matter of few weeks.

Among the festival's movies, that will be displayed at five venues in the Opera House at the heart of the capital Cairo, are 16 in the International Competition, more than 40 in the Festival of Festivals section, 20 films in the Special Screenings section, besides seven classic films of late Egyptian and international stars and filmmakers as well as a spotlight on seven Japanese popular animated movies.

As usual, European movies take the lion's share in the festival, with about 17 movies coming from France, nine from Germany, eight from Italy and five from the UK. The CIFF also features some 20 Asian movies, including China's "North by Northeast." Endit