2nd Cairo Drama Festival Pays Tribute to Late Stars

The last week of the first edition of the New Alamein Festival in Egypt's North Coast hosted the second edition of the Cairo Drama Festival (CDF), on Thursday night.

The CDF, headed by veteran Egyptian actor Yehia El-Fakharany, was held under the title “60 Years of Drama” and celebrated the 60th anniversary of the production and screening of the first Egyptian TV series.

The jury is chaired by director Gamal Abdel Hamid and includes Elham Shahin, Karim Abdel Aziz, critic Tarek El Shennawy, and the writer Abdel Rahim Kamal.

This edition witnessed strong competition between 59 TV series that screened on TV and digital platforms throughout the year, in a new experience that was not only limited to Ramadan TV series.

The festival has also introduced the audience award, which allows Egyptian and Arab audiences to vote for the best series, cast, and crew who participated in these works.

The ceremony celebrated many individuals who influenced Egyptian art with their work including late iconic actors Mahmoud ElMeligy, Abdullah Ghaith, and Hamdi Ghaith as well as veteran Egyptian actors Salah El Sa'dany and Hassan Youssef.

It also honored the late iconic actor Mahmoud Abdelaziz and honored Karim Abdel Aziz, Mona Zaki, Maged El Kadwany, Mohamed Henedy, Menna Shalaby, Tamer Hosny, Peter Mimi, and Kamela Abu Zekry.

The late Sheikh Salah Kamel was also honored for his contributions to the Egyptian drama.

The glamorous ceremony saw the honoring of a number of veteran stars such as Fakharany, Adel Emam, Lobna Abdelaziz, Hala Fakher, Khaled Zaki, late Osama Abbass, Rashwan Tawfik, and Lotfy Labib.

The festival also feted the pioneer of pantomime art in Egypt Ahmed Nabil, makeup artist Ahmed Afify as well as veteran actors Sayed Sadek and Osman Mohamed Aly.

See the full list of winners below.

Best Editing Award: Ahmed Hafez for his work in "Tahet El Wesaya"

Best Photography Award: Beshoy Rozvelt for his work in "Tahet El Wesaya"

Best Score Award: Yassin El Tohamy for "Sethom"

Best Decor Award: Samer El Gamal for his work in "Gat Salema"

Best Costume Designer Award: Samia Abdelaziz for her work in "Resalet El Emam"

Best soundtrack Award: Tamer Karwan for his work in "Resalet El Emam"

Best Rising Actor Award: Essam Omar for his role in "Balto" - Taha Desouky for his role in "Mawdoo Aaely" - Omar Sharif for his role in "Tahet El Wesaya"

Best Rising Actress Award: Rana Raies for her role in "Mawdoo Aaely"- Salma Abou Deif for her role in "Resalet El Emam" - Nancy Salah for her role in "Sethom"

Best Screenplay Award: Mariam Naoum for "El Harsha El Sabaa" - Ahmed Atef Fayad for her role "Balto"

Best Director Award: Mohamed Shaker Khodier for "Tahet El Wesaya"

Special Jury Members Award: Hala Sedky for her iconic role in “Gaafar El Omda”

Best Supporting Actor Award: Roshdy el Shamy for his role in "Tahet El Wesaya" - Hamza El Eily for his role in "Resalet El Emam"

Best Comedy Series Award: Gat Salema

Best Actor Award: Maged El Kadwany for his role in "Mawdoo Aaely"

Best Supporting Actress Award: Sama Ibrahim for her role in "Mawdoo Aaely" - Asmaa Galal for her role in "El Harsha el Sabaa"

Best Actress Award" Mona Zaki for her role in "Tahet El Wesaya"

Best Series Award: Tahet El Wesaya

 Audience Votes Awards: 

Best Rising Actor Award: Amir Eid for his role in "Rivo"

Best Supporting Actor Award: Essam Elsakka for his role in “Gaafar El Omda”. He dedicated it to the late actor Moustafa Darwish

Best Supporting Actor Award: Moustafa Darwish

Best Supporting Actor Award: Eman Elassi for her role in “Gaafar El Omda”

Best Scriptwriter Award: Mohamed Sami and Mohab Tarek for “Gaafar El Omda”

Best Director Award: Mohamed Sami for “Gaafar El Omda”

Best Actress Award: Mona Zaki

Best Actor Award: Mohamed Ramadan for his role in “Gaafar El Omda”

Best Series Award: Gaafar El Omda

The second edition is organized by the United Media Services Company - the strategic partner of the festival - in cooperation with the Actors' Syndicate.

The festival honors the best drama of the year as well as stimulates creativity and develops the artistic production industry, and enhances the enlightening role of drama in shaping society's awareness of the most important issues and promoting human values.