Damascus International Film Festival opens

The 14th one-week session of Damascus International Film Festival opened at Umayyad's palace for conferences yesterday.

Education Minister Mahmoud al-Sayyed, the representative of President al-Assad, said "The slogan 'viva cinema' indicates the will of life and splendor of optimism on our nation that didn't and will not turn the eyes but to a noble life." He indicated that importance of the cinema art lies in building life, spreading artistic taste, promoting understanding and encouraging creation.

For his part, Director of Cinema General Institution, Mohammad al-Ahmad underlined significance of the art and culture to extricate peoples from their crisis.

The festival honored the late internationally well-known Syrian Movie Director Mustafa Al-Akkad and awarded him the Order of Merit of Excellent Degree. A documentary summarizing al-Akka's eventful career is to be shown during the event.

The festival, which has been held every two years, was first launched in 1979 under the title of 'Cinema for Progress and Liberation'. Since then, many Syrian features were produced by Syrian directors and won important prizes. It gives an opportunity to independent and little known film directors to show their works to a large audience.