Aswan International Women's Film Festival (AIWFF) was founded in 2017 by Egyptian screenwriter Mohamed Abdel Khalek. It is the first annual Egyptian film festival focused on women's issues and filmmakers, with an emphasis on Egypt and the broader
MENA
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA), also referred to as West Asia and North Africa (WANA) or South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA), is a geographic region which comprises the Middle East (also called West Asia) and North Africa together ...
region. It is also the first international festival held in Upper Egypt.
History
The festival, established in 2017 by Mohamed Abdel Khalek, is one of Egypt's premier film events.
It is held under the patronage of the Egyptian ministries of Culture, Tourism, and Social Solidarity, and in association with the National Council for Women, the Aswan Governorate, and Aswan University, among others.
Abdel-Khalek described the festival as having four pillars: a showcase for films that address women's issues; a forum for women's issues convening activists from around the world; workshops for young filmmaking trainees; and a networking event for film producers.
The festival attracts a national and international audience of celebrities and politicians such as
Nelly Karim
Nelly Karim (; born 18 December 1974) is an Egyptian actress and singer, model, and former ballerina.
Early Life
Nelly Karim is the daughter of a Soviet Russian mother from Leningrad and an Egyptian father from Zagazig. Born in Alexandria, E ...
,
Yosra El Lozy
Yosra El Lozy (, ; born August 8, 1985) is an Egyptian actress. She has received many awards from regional and international film festivals. She has won various awards for her acting in ''Qobolat Masrouqa'' (2008), ''Bel-Alwan el-Tabe'eya'' (200 ...
,
Madeleine Tabar
Madeleine Tabar () is a Lebanese actress. She appeared in ''Road to Eilat'' (1994).
Biography
Tabar was born in Beirut on 26 February 1958. She studied Public Relations and Advertising at the Lebanese University. She began her work on radio and ...
,
Randa El Behery,
Danny Glover
Danny Glover ( ; born July 22, 1946) is an American actor, producer, and political activist. Over his career he has received List of awards and nominations received by Danny Glover, numerous accolades including the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian A ...
,
Barbara Bouchet
Barbara Bouchet (born Bärbel Gutscher; 15 August 1943)
, glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com; ...
, and
Victoria Abril
Victoria Mérida Rojas (born 4 July 1959), better known as Victoria Abril, is a Spanish film actress and singer based in France. She is possibly best known to international audiences for her performance in the film '' Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!'' b ...
.
Every edition honors a prominent woman. These have included:
Djamila Bouhired
Djamila Bouhired (, born June 1935) is an Algerian nationalist militant, who opposed the French colonial rule of Algeria as a member of the National Liberation Front.
In 1957, she was convicted alongside another Algerian rebel, Djamila Bouazz ...
, an Algerian militant nationalist who fought against French colonial rule, at the 2nd edition in 2018;
Mohsena Tawfik, a veteran actress of Egyptian film and television, at the 3rd edition in 2019;
French actress and director
Marilyne Canto
Marilyne Canto (born 18 November 1963) is a French actress and film director. She won the 2007 César Award for Best Short Film for '' Fais de beaux rêves''.
Selected filmography
References
External links
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1963 births
Living peop ...
at the 6th edition in 2022; and Syrian actress
Kinda Alloush
Kinda Mazen Alloush (; born on 27 March 1982 in Hama) is a Syrian actress known for her roles in Syrian and Egyptian drama and cinema.
Early life and career
Alloush was born in Hama, Syria to a father who was a physician and mother who was ...
at the 9th edition in 2025.
As of 2020, over 250 students, of which the majority were girls, have been trained at festival workshops.
See also
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List of women's film festivals
Women's film festivals are film events geared to promote women in the film industry. Women’s film festivals began due to the lack of female voice within the film industry. To combat this hindrance, their own film festival was designed. Most women ...
References
External links
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{{Authority control
Women's film festivals
Annual events in Egypt
Film festivals about African cinema
Winter in Egypt
2017 establishments in Egypt
Film festivals established in 2017