
Renowned production designer Mohamed Attia received the Best Set Design Award for his work on EL SETT, directed by Marwan Hamed, at the 52nd Annual Film Society Festival for Egyptian Cinema. The ceremony took place at Cairo鈥檚 Opera House. This marks another win for Attia at the festival, having previously been recognized for films such as BAAD EL MAWKEAA, THE WALLS OF THE MOON, SONS OF RIZK, EHKY YA SCHEHERAZADE, and THE BLUE ELEPHANT. EL SETT chronicles the life of Umm Kulthum, from her early singing days in rural Egypt to her rise as an iconic voice in the Arab world, culminating in her 1967 Olympia concert. The festival, held from April 14th to 21st, featured eight Egyptian films from 2025, including EL SETT, 6 DAYS, SEEKING HAVEN FOR MR. RAMBO, and THE TALE OF DAYE鈥橲 FAMILY. Attia's extensive career includes collaborations with leading filmmakers like Marwan Hamed, Yousry Nasrallah, Tarek Alarian, and Ahmed Alaa Al Deeb. Beyond cinema, he has contributed to television productions such as ABLA FAHITA EL DUPLEX, ABLA FAHITA: DRAMA QUEEN, AFRAH AL QOBA, EL TAMANYA, TAHT EL WESAYA, and EKHWATY. His work also extends to theater with the musical COCO CHANEL and the design of major Egyptian cultural events like the Pharaoh鈥檚 Golden Parade, the reopening of the Avenue of Sphinxes, and the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Egypt Today.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi issued Decree No. 301 of 2026, granting pardons for the remainder of sentences for certain convicted inmates. This decision marks the 74th anniversary of the July 23, 1952 Revolution. The decree, published in the Official Gazette, applies to several categories of prisoners. Those sentenced to life imprisonment who have served at least 15 years by July 23, 2026, are eligible, though they will remain under police supervision for five years. Additionally, individuals serving fixed prison terms before July 23, 2026, are eligible if they have completed one-third of their sentence by that date, with a minimum of four months served. This also includes inmates serving multiple sentences for offenses committed prior to their correctional center entry.
Must ReadEgypt and Saudi Arabia have urged an immediate cessation of all military operations and emphasized the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation. This call came during a phone conversation between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The ministers stressed the need for political and diplomatic solutions to regional crises and enhanced coordination among Arab nations to maintain security and stability. They also reaffirmed the importance of securing international maritime routes and rejecting any attempts to obstruct transit through international waterways. These discussions occurred amidst escalating regional tensions, including the ongoing conflict in Iran, retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, and recent Houthi attacks on Saudi maritime interests in the Red Sea, alongside Tehran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Must ReadEgyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty and Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met in Doha, calling for the resumption of negotiations between the United States and Iran. They urged regional efforts to de-escalate Middle East tensions and return to diplomacy, emphasizing the need for these efforts to lead to de-escalation, renewed negotiations, and adherence to the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran from mid-June. The ministers also discussed developments in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East Jerusalem, stressing the importance of implementing the first phase of US President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan and transitioning to its second phase. This meeting was part of ongoing consultations between Egypt and Qatar, with both ministers reaffirming their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation, especially in trade, economic ties, and investment opportunities.