In an exclusive interview with Screen Arabia, Amin Oussema,The General coordinator of “Qena Cinema Days”, which will take place from February 25 to 28, 2024, provided some insights into the inaugural edition of the festival. “We aim to expand the scope of partnerships and diversify the competition categories in the upcoming edition of “Qena Cinema Days.” He announced, as plans to be implemented in the next edition. Referring to this inaugural edition, he explained that it was organized by him along with two other filmmakers, namely Moataz El-Qadi and Bimine Sameer.In the same context, Ossama clarified that “Qena Cinema Days” serves as a crucial opportunity for the filmmakers from Upper Egypt to showcase and share their works with the public. Given the absence of cultural events specifically focusing on Southern films in the Egyptian cinema field, according to him.It is, according to him, a way of encouraging such marginalized categories to continue their cinematic endeavors.Not only his village,Qos, But also many regions in southern Egypt don’t even have cinemas.

“Qena Cinema Days aims to uplift the cultural sector as a whole in Upper Egypt.”Ossama Amin
General Coordinator of “Qena Cinema Days”

The festival’s Workshops:
Concerning the festival’s workshops,Ossema revealed details about the 2 workshops that will be featured in the event, “Actor Preparation” and “Cinematic Direction,” each accommodating around 15 participants. Regarding panel discussions, he explained that there will be a press conference discussing the achievements of the late filmmaker Youssef Gohar, as well as a dialogue session exploring the history of cinema.
when it comes to honoring the late screenwriter Youssef Gohar,, Osama stated that the choice was made because he hails from the city of Qoss and  residents of the region take pride in his achievement of overcoming numerous challenges to provide a significant cinematic legacy with works such as “The Nightingale’s Prayer”.

The Competitions:
Furthermore, the festival’s General Coordinator delved into the rationale behind selecting competition categories. He underscored the value of dedicating a competition to heritage films, pointing out the rich tradition of traditional crafts, such as pottery, in the Qena region. Emphasizing the importance of showcasing these artistic endeavors to bolster the local economy, he also stressed the need to address environmental concerns through the environmental film competition, aiming to raise awareness about the imperative of preserving the environment.Regarding the women’s film competition, he clarified its primary goal—to raise awareness about women’s issues and the challenges they confront, encompassing harassment, inequality, and violations of their rights.Per his description.

“Environment, women, and heritage are the themes that adorn the festival’s competitions and reflect the identity of the city of Qena.” Amin Ossama

Ossama Amin General Coordinator of “Qena Cinema Days”.