Fourth session of Egyptian national cinema festival today

The fourth session of Egyptian national cinema festival, which will last until October 21, will be inaugurated tonight.

17 narrative films and 47 documentaries and cartoon films will take part, competing for financial prizes valued at LE 320,000 -- equal to the prizes of the American Oscar, the British Bafta and French Spras.

The head of the festival, Ali Abu Shadi, said that the financial prizes will be presented by the Ministry of Culture through the cultural development fund (CDF) in the form of production services to the coming works of the winners, either directors or producers.

Moreover the festival will present three gold prizes for documentaries, short narrative films and cartoons, in addition to 12 prizes for long narrative films in different cinematic professions. Two prizes will be given by the private arbitration committee.