Following its recent official inauguration, the Hurghada Palace of Culture is set to host the activities of the 4th edition of the Hurghada Youth Cinema Festival. The festival is scheduled to take place from September 10 to 15, under the auspices of Dr. Jihan Zaki, Minister of Culture, and Dr. Waleed Abdel Azim Al-Barqi, Governor of the Red Sea.

A Comprehensive Cultural Hub

Director Hisham Atwa, Head of the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, stated that the palace is one of the most prominent and beautiful cultural assets owned by the Authority in Egypt, describing it as an integrated project that encompasses various artistic activities.

He added that the palace underwent a comprehensive renovation and development process, which included the administrative building, the activities building, and the main theater. This comes as part of the Ministry of Culture and the Red Sea Governorate’s plan to upgrade cultural centers and support artistic and creative activities in the region.

Atwa noted that the palace had been closed for over a quarter of a century. The development work included equipping the theater to accommodate up to 850 seats, making it one of the largest cultural theaters in the Upper Egypt and Red Sea coast governorates. He expressed his delight that the palace is hosting the activities of the festival’s fourth edition.

Connecting Stars with the Audience

On his part, screenwriter Mohamed Al-Basousy, President of the Festival, emphasized that the opening and development of the palace will help deliver the festival’s message to the audience of the Red Sea Governorate.

Al-Basousy added that the festival activities hosted by the Palace of Culture will include:

• The opening and closing ceremonies.

• Film screenings.

• Industry workshops covering screenwriting, cinematography, and directing.

• Key seminars featuring honored guests and filmmakers.

He pointed out that holding the festival’s activities inside the palace provides an opportunity for direct interaction between stars, filmmakers, the Red Sea audience, and local talents. He stressed that the festival’s activities will not cease after the conclusion of the fourth edition; rather, they will continue throughout the year inside the palace through the establishment of the “Hurghada Festival Film Club,” alongside ongoing meetings, seminars, and workshops in various filmmaking disciplines.

A Transition Period and Realized Dream

Meanwhile, journalist and film critic Kadry El-Haggar, Director of the Festival, explained that the opening of the Palace of Culture represents a significant milestone for the festival.

“The development and inauguration of the palace mark a transitional phase that we have eagerly anticipated over the festival’s past three editions. We wanted the palace to be the main gateway for the festival and its activities, and this dream has come true with the launch of the fourth edition,” El-Haggar said.

He further noted that the palace’s opening allowed for the addition of several new events and activities introduced for the first time in this fourth edition. He concluded by mentioning that the film screenings for the festival’s various competitions will be available to the palace’s visitors, followed by direct Q&A sessions with the filmmakers.