Ismailia film festival next saturday; 162 films from 54 countries in the most important festival for short films

The Seventh International Ismailia Festival will begin next Saturday for documentary and short stories films. Minister of Culture Farouk Hosney will open the festival in the presence of Foad Saad- Aldin, Ismailia governor, as well as the festival head Ali Abu Shady.

The festival will begin by showing an Italian film titled "War on the Palestinian issue."

The festival will include 162 films from 54 countries and about 76 films will participate in the competition in addition to video films. In the meanwhile, 14 long documentary films will participate the competition as well as 22 animated films, and 30 narrative films.

The assessment committee will be headed by the German critic Herman Berth and the membership of Charles Tyson, cinema critic, Gary Celdia the Australian cinema director, Anokom Okoumy Nigerian cinema critic, the Syrian critic Qus'ei Darwish, the Palestinian director Nabiha Lotfy and Yehia Azmy from Egypt.

Aside from the competition, 86 films are shown among which 15 long documentary films, 21 short documentary films, 30 narrative short films and 20 animated films.

Among the Arabic states which are participating with films outside the competition are Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, Algeria, United Arab of Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The festival will be ended by presenting the American film "Undesirable" for the famous director Oliver Stone.