Your excellencies…honourable guests.

From the beautiful and enchanting Aswan, on behalf of the European Union, it is an honour and a pleasure for me to participate, for the first time, in the Aswan International Women Film Festival.

I would like to pay tribute to exceptional Egyptian artists who are present today, as well as all to the distinguished artists from EU Member States and other countries. 

For more than 100 years, cinema has been a mirror, a magical art, depicting humankind, senses, emotions, experiences, and lives. Cinema makes you think, it makes you feel, it makes you consider your own experience in view of what is in the frame and what is out. 

Egyptian cinema is considered a pioneer among the Arab World. Since 1896, over 4,000 films have been produced in Egypt and in 1936, Egypt held its first ever Egyptian cinema festival in Cairo. Egyptian women artists, especially pioneer filmmakers and producers, have been cornerstones of the cinema industry in Egypt and the Arab world. 

As a strategic partner to Egypt and committed to promoting women’s voices and decision making globally, the European Union has been a partner in the ‘Aswan International Women Film Festival’ for 6 years now.

The 9th edition of the Aswan Women Film Festival celebrates one of the greatest female icons of all time. ‘Umm Kulthum’ a woman with an extraordinary talent, a great vision and enormous influence. Her life journey inspired many people until today. Thank you Umm Kulthum for sharing your gifts with so many, through your music and art.

I would like to thank my colleagues Ambassadors and representatives of EU Member States present here in Aswan. We are united in peace and equality. 

The Government of Egypt is supporting this important festival and together with all partners, in particular the National Council for Women present here today who believe in all women achieving and using their full potential. 

Special thanks to the Board of Trustees and the management of the festival for the wonderful cooperation with the European Union. With our support, and after 6 years of partnership, 500 young women and men learned more about filmmaking. Some of their productions competed in regional and international competitions. 

Finally, I would like to thank H.E. the Governor of Aswan, M-G Mohamed Kamal, and special thanks to the people of Aswan for their generous hospitality and warm welcome. 

I wish you all a successful deliberation of the 9th Aswan International Women Film Festival.