The French Institute in Cairo has been organizing an annual festival since 2003 to support the work of emerging theater groups in Egypt. This year, the institute developed its vision to accommodate and better serve the needs of the local scene. As Cultural Project Manager Noemi Kahn, explains in this interview, the festival has expanded its out of competition section to show works by established artists alongside early career ones. It has also invited an independent selection committee to assess all applications and provide critical feedback to all participants. The committee comprised theater director Tarek Dewary, Dancer/Choreographer Karima Mansour and theater director Salam Yousry, who chose seven plays to be shown in competition and three out of competition. The results have been very rewarding explains Kahn and the French Institute is working on repeating the festival in Alexandria as well as supporting the work of participants in various ways.
The interview is in Arabic and has English subtitles.