Youssef Chahine bows out of Tatwan cinema festival

Egyptian director Youssef Chahine apologized for not being able to accept the chairmanship of the arbitration committee in the tenth session of the Moroccan Tatwan cinema festival for Mediterranean films which will be held in the first week of April.

He cited that he is busy with the last features in his new film "The Other" or El-Akher, which he is setting up for the 52nd session of the Cannes Film Festival in May.

The head of National Cinema Center, Madkouer Thabet, who is responsible for Egyptian participation in the festival, said Chahine informed him on his apology for not being able to chair the festival's committee and his refusal to present Erk El-Balah and Consherto Drab Saada in Tatwan festival.

These two films are produced by Chahine, but Thabet did not mention any details on the cause of Chahine's refusal.