On Dec. 26 2011, AIC launched the fourth-annual Cairo Human Rights Film Festival (CHRFF) in Zamalek, downtown Cairo. The opening ceremony and screenings were held at Egypt’s most famous cultural center, Elsawy Culturewheel. The opening ceremony welcomed a large crowd with an introduction by Dalia Ziada, AIC’s Egypt Office Director and Zainab Al-Suwaij, AIC’s Executive Director. After honoring filmmakers and winners of AIC’s “Eye to Heart” film contest the 2011 festival winners were called to the stage to be honored and introduced to the media. The festival also honored activist Mostafa Alnaggar, who was elected recently as a member of parliament.
The opening ceremony concluded with the opening screening of seven winning viral videos from the “Eye to Heart” film contest, as well as the award-winning “Bringing Down a Dictator” by American filmmaker Steve York. Ironically, CHRFF was banned from screening “Bringing Down a Dictator” in 2009. Authorities had threatened to cancel the festival if this film was screened. In 2011, we were especially proud to present this film at the opening screening.
Arabic-language media coverage of the Fourth-Annual Cairo Human Rights Film Festival held Dec. 27-30, 2011:
Nile Live TV:
Elwafd WebTV:
2011 CHRFF Promo Video:
