Egypt film festival showcases women’s resilience through adversity
Egypt’s eighth annual Aswan International Women Film Festival took place from April 20 to 25. This year's focus was on the resilience of women, with Egypt's economic turmoil and the war in neighboring Gaza as a backdrop. Cairo-based photojournalist Hamada Elrasam captured scenes around the festival in Aswan, Egypt's southernmost city known as the country's ancient gateway. Captions by Elle Kurancid.
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Young farmers pass wheat fields near the host city of the Aswan International Women Film Festival, or AIWFF, where about half of the governorate’s population lives in poverty, according to the latest official figures. Aswan, Egypt, April 20, 2024.
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Egyptian actors on the film festival's red carpet show their support for the annual celebration of women-focused productions, including 76 cinematic works, with spotlights on Tunisian, Palestinian and Sudanese films. Aswan, Egypt, April 20, 2024.
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Nahed El Sebai, an Egyptian actress and AIWFF juror, says, “Being part of the jury fills me with a sense of pride, as I have a passion for embracing diverse cultures.” The festival includes films from over 36 countries. Aswan, Egypt, April 23, 2024.
![Rashid Masharawi, a Gaza-born Palestinian filmmaker and AIWFF juror, says, “We [Palestinian filmmakers] want to go beyond mere news reports to create artistic, cultural projects that will endure for years to come.” Aswan, Egypt, April 24, 2024.](https://gdb.voanews.com/01000000-0aff-0242-f07b-08dc69e514b2_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Rashid Masharawi, a Gaza-born Palestinian filmmaker and AIWFF juror, says, “We [Palestinian filmmakers] want to go beyond mere news reports to create artistic, cultural projects that will endure for years to come.” Aswan, Egypt, April 24, 2024.