By Anas Al-Yusuf

Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Hectic reparations are underway for the Red Sea international film festival scheduled for March 12.

As part of the preparations, festival organizers hosted Marwan Hamed, the famous Egyptian movie director. Hamed talked about his experience in the film industry which extended for more than two decades.

He talked to about 150 cinema enthusiasts who gathered at the Saudi Art Council here on Sunday. They described Hamed's experience in the film industry as "inspirational".

Festival director Antoin Khalife moderated the dialogue highly praising the works of the Egyptian director.

Hamed said he was able to convince famous movie star Adel Imam to do his role in the Yacoubian Building film, based on a story by Egyptian writer Alaa Al-Aswany after refusing to do it because it was away from his stereotype characters.

"I never expected the success which the film has made. No director can be sure about the success of his works," he said.

In 2014, Hamed directed the "Blue Elephant" based on a story by the young Egyptian writer Ahmed Murad. He described his duality with Murad as "joyful and entertaining". The second part of the film was made in 2019.

Hamed began his career in direction 2001 through a short film called "Laila" which was based on a story written by noted Egyptian writer Yousef Idris.

Hamed expects the festival to be a success and said he was fully backing the joint film production between Arab countries.