Cairo International Film Festival is not cancelled

Legal procedures will be taken to maintain the running of the Cairo International Film Festival, filmmaker and head of the National Council of Cinema Magdy Ahmed Ali said at a press conference at the Supreme Council of Culture yesterday. The press conference was held in order to address rumours that the festival would be cancelled, following a law order that annulled the Cairo Festival organisation supervising the Cairo International Film Festival. The lawsuit was filed by Mamdouh El-Leithy, the head of the Egyptian Cinema Writers and Critics Association. Magdy Ahmed Ali read a statement clarifying that the lawsuit did not cancel the festival but that it simply set conditions for holding the festival. He added that  the cancellation of the festival would take away its international recognition. Last year the festival was not held due to political instability, as well as financial concerns within the cultural ministry. This year the festival is schedueled to run from 27 November till 6 December. From: Al Ahram