Alexandria film festival kicks off on Wednesday

The US-Australian production "Moulin Rouge" will be the curtain raiser of the 17th Alexandria Film Festival that will kick off on Wednesday in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

The film stars the Australian super star Nicola Kidman and her former husband Tom Cruse.

Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni and Alexandria Governor Abdessalam El-Mahjoub will be attending the opening gala, said the festival chairman, Mohammad Saleh, an erudite prominent film critic.

This Year's festival is of a higher level than the past year's as far as the number of countries participating, 45, and the number of films competing, 64, were concerned, said Saleh.

The festival is hosting the Indian mega star Amitab Patchan, who will be honoured. Patchan's wife, Jaya, is a member in the jury panel.

The festival will honour Nobel Laureate novelist Naguib Mahfouz, late outstanding singer and composer Mohammad Abdel Wahab and veteran actress Fatin Hamama.