Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theater (CIFET) -headed by Dr. Gamal Yakout- is to honor (5) theatrical figures from Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Canada during the opening ceremony of the twenty-ninth edition at the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House.
At the top of the honorees comes the name of late Dr. Kamal Eid, one of the iconic pioneers of Arab theater. Eid graduated from the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts in 1952. Additionally, he obtained a Master’s Degree and a PhD and was appointed as a professor of acting and directing at the Academy of Arts. He was also the founder of the Dramatic Arts Department, University of Babylon. Furthermore, Eid directed multiple plays: “Shafiqa Wa Metwally”, “Al-Dofdaa”, “Tubul Fi Al-Layl”, “Mashhad Mn Al-Gesr”, and “Al-Ostaz”. Moreover, he was the author of several researches, books, and translations: “societal theater”, “philosophy of literature and art”, and “aesthetics of arts”. Eid received numerous awards and honors, the most recent of which was the State Appreciation Award in 2018.
Furthermore, Egyptian director Intisar Abdel-Fattah who became locally and internationally famous for his unique theatrical works is to be honored. Abdel-Fattah received several local and international awards during his creative journey, which indicates numerous concepts and directions, inspired by the heritage of Egypt which started in 1976 through monitoring and field research in “Al-Mawalid” and markets. He participated in several performances at CIFET as well.
CIFET will honor the Saudi writer and theatrical director, Fahd Rada Al-Harithi, one of the pioneers of the renewal movement with respect to the Saudi theater. Al-Harithi was the first to allocate a page for the Saudi theater in (Albilad Newspaper) in 1987. Besides, Al-Harithi is the editor-in-chief of the theatrical workshop bulletin and a founding member of the Taif Theater website; the first Saudi theatrical website. He was also the supervisor of a considerable number of workshops and training courses in theatrical writing techniques and writing curricula.
Tunisian scenographer and theatrical director, Anwar Al-Chaafi is to be honored. He graduated from the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts, Tunisia in 1988. Besides, Al-Chaafi presented a research thesis, entitled “modern theater in Tunisia through experience and experimentation”. He also has multiple theatrical experiences within Tunisia and abroad.
CIFET is to honor the Canadian director, author, and producer Dominic Champagne who directed multiple theatrical performances in English and French and several shows of the Circus of the Sun in Canada. Champagne also presented numerous performances in Los Angeles theaters and worked as a professor at the Drama Institute and the Conservatoire in Canada. Besides, he won multiple international awards in writing and directing.
It is noteworthy that the 29th edition of CIFET bears the name of the world-famous playwright, Peter Brook. The 29th edition is scheduled to take place between 1-8 September, chaired by Dr. Gamal Yakout and held under the auspices of the Minister of Culture, Dr. Nevine Al-Kilani.
