“Unforgettable” shots of Farouk Flux at the opening of the 47th Cairo Film Festival

The opening ceremony of the 47th session of the Cairo International Film Festival, on Wednesday, witnessed unforgettable shots honoring the distinguished Egyptian artist Farouk Flux (89 years old), starting with his photo on the festival’s red carpet surrounded by his son Ahmed, his daughter Yousser, and his grandchildren, all the way to the photo that brought him together with Aser Yassin and Medhat El Adl, in which 3 generations of Egyptian artists appeared, whom the festival honored on the 50th anniversary of its launch. Between the two pictures, whose frames are issued by the artist Farouk Flux, There were also unforgettable moments, when he came up on stage, leaning on the artist Hussein Fahmy, the president of the festival, and Abdelaziz Qanswa, the Minister of Higher Education and Acting Minister of Culture, and cried with emotion amidst the warm applause of generations of stars, artists, and filmmakers in Egypt and the world who attended the opening ceremony of the new edition of the festival.

Artist Farouk Flux waved the “Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement” award, as he had been waving for more than 6 decades, which he spent on stage and on the sets of dozens of films and television series in which he participated, during his career. Then came the moment when Farouk called his son Ahmed Flux to come on stage. The father described his son as a “fine artist,” and the son responded with a kiss on his father’s hand. A moment that could carry many meanings, including rehabilitating their relationship, publicly and in front of the public. This relationship was marred by tension and was affected by rumors at one point.

The festival also honored, at the opening ceremony, the Italian director Matteo Garrone, the Moroccan director and producer Nabil Ayouch, the screenwriter and poet Medhat El Adl, with the “Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement” award, and the artist Aser Yassine with the “Faten Hamama Excellence Award.” The ceremony witnessed the screening of a documentary film that reviewed the most prominent events of the festival over the course of 50 years, and the activities, honors and hosting of Egyptian and international stars it witnessed. The festival paid tribute to a number of artists who passed away during the past year.

The new session of the festival witnesses the participation of 145 films from 64 countries, and its activities extend until November 20.