President Of the Jury
Mohamed Abderrahman Tazi
Director – Morocco
Born in 1942 in Fez, Morocco, Mohammed Abderrahman Tazi graduated from the I.D.H.E.C. in Paris in 1963. He then worked as a cameraman-reporter for the C.C.M. from 1964 to 1968. In 1970, he co-produced the feature film “Wechma” directed by Hamid Bennani, of which he is also the director of photography. In 1974, he spent a year studying communication at Syracuse University in the United States. In 1980, he created the production company “Arts et Techniques Audio-visuels” and began the following year to produce documentaries, short films, advertising films and institutional films for both the public and private sectors.
Mohammed Abderrahman Tazi shot his first fiction feature film, “Le grand voyage” in 1981. He then produced and directed “Badis” (1988), “À la recherche du mari de ma femme” (1993) and “Lalla Hobby” (1996).
Member Of the Jury
Souhir Ben Amara
Actress – Tunisia
Souhir is a young Tunisian theatre, cinema and television actress. She has worked with major Tunisian directors such as Nouri Bouzid and Ridha El Behi. She pursued her studies at the Higher Institute of Media and Arts, Tunisia (ISAM) where she obtained her graduation certificate as cinematographic director. In 2008, she participated in the International Festival of Amator Film of Kelibia (FIFAK) and won an award for her end of studies project: The Cat has spoken (Le chat a dit). Souhir Ben Amara made her first big screen appearance in the film Always Brando, 2011, directed by Ridha El Behi. Her first success with movie goers was her performance in the film Millefeuille, 2013, made by Nouri Bouzid. Her first television appearance was in 2008, in the Ramadan season. It was since then that she has started climbing the ladder of success.
In 2015, she was a member of CREDIF Jury at the Carthage cinema days (JCC), Tunisia, 2015.
The jury was awarded the Safi Faye Prize by the CREDIF and supported by UNESCO.
Member Of the Jury
ABDUL SATTAR NAJI
Film Critic- Kuwait
Abdul Sattar Naji is a Kuwaiti film critic and author.
He holds a Higher Diploma in Journalism from the University of Paris and is a member of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), he has taken part in several prominent film festivals as a juror including Cannes, Venice and the Berlinale. Currently, Naji is serving as both Head of the Information Centre of Al-Kharafi Festival for Theatrical Creativity and also Head of the IC of the Kuwait National Theatre Festival.
He has written several books, “Women face in the Arab cinema”, “The Arab face in the international cinema” in collaboration with UNESCO and “Women Auestions in the Carthage Theatre Days”.
Member Of the Jury
Fathy Abdelwahab
Actor – Egypt
He began his career as an actor on stage with the play “El Arabi El Faseeh” written by Lenin El Ramli and directed by Mohamed Sobhy. Farhan, he then worked on several film projects that eventually received commercial and critical acclaim, among them “An Upper-Egyptian at the AUC”, “Sleepless Nights”, “Farhaan Melaazem Adam”, “The Clown”, “Real Dreams”, “Dunia”, “Cabaret”, “An Hour and a Half”, “Birds of the Nile”, “Fawzia’s Secret Recipe”, “Alzheimer”,”Forced Escape”.
Fathi Abdel Wahab has won numerous awards, including Best Actor for his role in the film “Birds of the Nile” at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2009.
Fathi Abdel Wahab has presented many important plays in the theatre, including “Hamlet” on the national theatre stage, he has also had many successful series on television, including “People in Kafr Askar” and “Hidden Worlds” and “Abu Omar Egyptian”.
Member Of the Jury
Kassem Hawal
Director – Iraq
He studied theatrical acting and directing 1959 – 1963. Afters his studies, he established with friends “Aflam al yaum – films today” production company.
He directed a total of 28 documentaries and five features, and acted in three films. Some of his films won prizes of international film festivals, he also wrote several books about cinema, plays, short stories, and novels.
He is considered one of the founder of the Alternative Arab cinema movement in 1972 Syria – Lebanon, and contributed in founding the Arab cinematography union in 1974.
In 1979 in Lebanon he was elected as a chairman of “The Iraqi writers, Journalist, and artist league in exile”.
He was elected member of jury and chairman of several film festivals, and was honored in several film festivals.
He was rewarded by the “International peace bureau” for his work against war, fascism, and for peace.
In 2019 he was appointed consultant to the prime minister of Iraq for cultural affairs.
