Rome Africa Film Festival at Egyptian Academy of Arts

CAIRO – 20 July 2017: The Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome, headed by Dr Jehan Zaki, has concluded its 2016/2017 cultural season with the inauguration of 3rd edition of Rome Africa Film Festival (RAFF) for the first time with the high level participation of diplomats, critics as well as Egyptian, Italian and international artists on Wednesday, July 19.

The inauguration was attended by the Counselor Ayman Tharwat, in charge of Egyptian embassy affairs in Rome, ambassadors of Senegal, the head of the festival in Rome Mali Antonio Flamini, representatives from ambassadors of Algeria, Morocco and Jordan, and African and European cinematographers.

The festival was attended by the scenarist Sayed Fouad, the President of Luxor African film Festival and its director Azza Al Husseini, as the academy has concluded the protocol of cooperation between Luxor International film festival and African Rome festival.

During the inauguration, a senegalese film ‘Félicité’ directed by Alain Gomis was screened, attended by its hero Véronique Beya, who had expressed her pleasure of the inauguration of the festival in the Egyptian academy of arts in Rome.

Dr. Jehan Zaki has thanked Egypt for its support of the activities of the academy and its humanitarian messages to create cultural dialogue and make the West know about the Eastern and Egyptian civilizations confirming that the academy’s welcome for this European and African event supports the Egyptian diplomatic efforts to restore Egypt's position among African leading countries.

Italian artist Antonio Flamini has praised the remarkable preparations done in the inauguration, as it is the first time for the opening ceremony to be held outside the cinema and to be produced in such a wonderful way.

The Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome is the only Arab academy to teach arts among other 17 institutions in Italy. The establishment of the academy was the idea of the Egyptian painter Ragheb Ayad who with the support of his colleague Youssef Kamel wrote to the Egyptian embassy to suggest the establishment of the academy in Rome; therefore, in 1929 the academy was founded in Villa Borghese district.

On the other hand, the Rome Africa Film Festival aims to make the Italians be acquainted with African culture especially cinema for integration and mutual understanding.