Khaled Abol Naga Receives Best Actor Award and Ahmed Abdallah Wins Best Director
Film Clinic's movies won six awards at the Egyptian Catholic Center Cinema Festival which closed its 62nd edition on Friday, March 7th, 2014.
Aytin Amin's Villa 69 garnered three awards including, Best Actor for Khaled Abol Naga, Best Cinematography for Hossam Shaheen, in addition to a Certificate of Appreciation granted to Heba Yousry. Where as Best Director award went to Rags and Tatters' director Ahmed Abdallah, and a Certificate of Appreciation for Artistic Creativity was awarded to Asham, Naglaa Younes and Mona Sheimy for their remarkable performance in Asham.
The festival's edition this year witnessed the participation of five films produced by Film Clinic, out of twenty seven films, which which were commercially screened in theaters during 2013. The Festival Jury was headed by Director Magdy Ahmed Ali, and included names such as famed actress Laila Eloui, Farouk El Feshawy, and Nehal Anbar along with Scriptwriter Sayed Fouad, veteran musician Hany Mehana, Director of Photography Samir Farag and Film Critic Nader Ali.
First launched in 1952, the Egyptian Catholic Center Cinema Festival which aims to supporting filmmaking in transcending human and moral values.
Villa 69: Co-written by Mohamed Al Hag and Mahmoud Ezzat, the film is Ayten Amin's feature directorial debut. Produced by Film Clinic in co-production with Wael Omar's Middle West Films, the film stars Khaled Abol Naga, Arwa Gouda, and Egyptian veteran actress Lebleba. Villa 69 follows Hussein, a man living in isolation in his house. Characters from his past begin to invade his solitary lifestyle; his life witnesses drastic changes following the encounter with his sister and nephew, Seif. As a result, gradual and yet radical changes in his dogmatic view of life begin to emerge.
Rags and Tatters: Written and directed by Ahmed Abdallah, the film tells the story of a prison inmate who escapes from jail following the incidents that took place on January 28th, 2011, when police forces were withdrawn from the streets and chaos prevailed. The film stars Asser Yassin who plays the leading role of the fugitive inmate who moves in a number of poor alienated Egyptian districts. Rags and Tatters is produced by Film Clinic in co-production with Mashrou', Ahmed Abdallah's new production house formed with Asser Yassin, and Producer and Writer Amr Shama, Scriptwriter of After the Battle film.
Asham: Scripted by Maggie Morgan, the film is considered her feature directorial debut. The film tells six intertwined stories about aspiration, disappointment, and hope set against the backdrop of a restless Cairo, itself on the brink of change. At significant points of their lives, some characters converge onto a street peddler, while other characters experience a series of events, which inevitably lead their pathways to intersect. Asham stars a number of young actors and major stars including the outstanding Director Mohamed Khan together with Stage Director Mahmoud El Lozy, and young actors: Amina Khalil, who has appeared in Sharbat Loz TV series and Taraf Talet, Salma Salem, Seif Al Aswani, Shady Habashy, Ali Kasim, Marwa Tharwat, Mona El Shimi, Mina El Naggar, Nagla Younis, Noha El Khouli, Hani Eskandar and Hani Seif.
