For the first time the Ismailia International Festival for Documentary & Short Films Egyptian Nostalgia takes a look at directors' beginnings.

Amir El Emry, film critic and president of Ismailia International Festival for Documentary & Short Films announced the launch of a new section within the upcoming round of the festival called Egyptian Nostalgia which will be dedicated to rediscover documentary and short films by prominent filmmakers at the very beginning of their film career.

El Emry added that the main objective of that section is to start a dialogue between the different generations of filmmakers and shedding the light on documentary and short films by prominent directors. In addition, the new section will focus on restoring these films and making them available to be screened in culture centres and theatres in Egypt and abroad. Egyptian Nostalgia was born from the new vision of the festival that aims at giving films a longer life and giving them the chance to be screened multiple times throughout the year, broadening the scope and effect of the festival beyond its run.

The films in the Egyptian Nostalgia section include The Watermelon, a short film by Mohamed Khan produced in 1969 as well as four documentary films by Daoud Abd El Sayed, El Mokayda (The Swap) by Atif El Tayeb, Hayah Gadida (A New Life) written by Raafat El Meehy and directed by Ashraf Fahmy, Toboul (Drums) by Said Marzouk and Meataf (Coat) by Housein Kamal.

It is planned for the films selected for the new section to be converted into digital copies ready for screening at cultural centres and film festivals for free. A number of filmmakers were invited to attend discussion panels to be held after screening the films within the activities of the festival.

The 15th Ismailia International Festival for Documentary & Short Films is due to start from the 23rd to the 28th of June. It is organized by the National Centre for Cinema with further announcements and details expected in the near future.

For more information visit www.ismailiafilmfest.com

Issued by Hans Christian Mahnke