Egypt will be the first of a new tradition to welcome a “Country of Honor” every year to the Festival de Cannes. A tribute to the country will be held on May 18 featuring a screening of 18 jours, a collaborative effort of short films from 10 Egyptian directors, 20 actors, six writers and a crew based on the January 25 revolution in Egypt.
All profits from the film will be donated to organizing political and public education missions in Egyptian villages.
An official dinner with the Egyptian Cultural Minister and the Egyptian Ambassador to France will follow.
Hussein Kamal‘s 1968 title Al Bostagui will screen in the Cannes Classics selection and Sameh Abdel Aziz’ 2011 film Le Cri d’une fourmi will be added to the Cinema de le Plage lineup.
A concert with Egyptian musicians West El Bala will round out the celebration with a party that evening.