Ashraf AboArafe writes
On the night when light walked softly…
It was an evening shimmering like the calm surface of a river—
a Turkish home overlooking Cairo like a window open to history,
where souls gathered before names,
stories before words,
and art before protocol.
The night itself resembled an old Ottoman melody
reaching out to an Egyptian maqam,
a harmony whispered from the age of Umm Kulthum.
Faces glowed across the room
like stars descending to guard the celebration.
There—
where Turkish cinematic memory met the pulse of Cairo,
and where melodies intertwined like rivers meeting at dusk,
Ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen hosted an evening unlike any other—
an evening that seemed to tell the world:
when art unites, it becomes a homeland beyond geography.
A Prayer of Light:
The Ambassador’s Words Across Two Shores**
Ladies and gentlemen,
honored guests—
Welcome to this home whose doors open like a heart overflowing with warmth,
as we gather to celebrate the Turkish delegation participating in the
46th Cairo International Film Festival—
a festival that witnesses not only films,
but eras shifting,
and stories searching for their destinies on the screen.
From Cairo—keeper of the East’s memory,
to Türkiye—stretching from Anatolia to Europe,
a bridge of beauty and wisdom extends,
carried by cinema,
nourished by creativity.
When Stars Draw Near:
A Night Enriched by Icons of Both Worlds**
Among us stood the great Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy,
a man whose very presence shines like a chronicle of light.
And with him, filmmakers and creators from Türkiye—
directors, actors, writers, producers—
each carrying a piece of their soul
to place gently beside Cairo’s own heart.
Leading the Turkish delegation was
Birol Güven,
a visionary who believed that Turkish drama is not merely moving images,
but a message—
the fragrance of a homeland carried across screens.
Adding profound magic to the night was
Nuri Bilge Ceylan,
the philosopher-director,
president of this year’s international jury,
who films human silence
as though it were a language spoken only by artists.
Where Two Cinemas Met:
Egypt’s Memory… Türkiye’s Beginning**
Egyptian cinema—
in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s—
was not merely a golden age…
it was a sun.
That sun shone onto Turkish screens,
inspiring directors, shaping tastes,
and influencing the early generations
who first dreamt of the silver screen in Türkiye.
The story began in Cairo…
and reached completion in Istanbul.
From the hands of musician Sadi Tüzün Kaynak,
the melodies of eighty-five Egyptian films
were rearranged into Turkish compositions—
becoming part of Türkiye’s musical air,
part of its cultural memory.
Immortal Icons:
Melodies That Cross Borders**
In Türkiye,
the name Omar Sharif is whispered like a beautiful prayer.
Youssef Chahine remains a prophetic voice of cinema
for many Turkish directors.
And Umm Kulthum—
she is the voice that descends from the sky,
a voice that seeks not an audience…
but hearts.
Cinema and music have bound Egypt and Türkiye
as the sea binds two waves—
never separated, even when distance appears.
A Memory Honored:
A Message to Hussein Fahmy**
The Ambassador addressed Hussein Fahmy directly:
“I have not forgotten our very first call…
nor the moment you promised to rebuild the bridge
between Cairo and Ankara.
And today, you have fulfilled that promise—
Turkey is here:
its films, its stars, and the president of its international jury.”
Stories Waiting for the Camera:
From Zainab Kamel Hanım to Our Shared History**
The Ambassador expressed his hope for deeper cooperation—
joint productions that revisit the intertwined destinies of both nations:
- The story of Zainab Kamel Hanım, the Ottoman-Egyptian princess whose generosity founded a hospital in Istanbul in 1862.
- Countless shared tales waiting to be awakened—
historic epics
and contemporary narratives
that reveal how deeply our paths intertwine.
Touches of Night:
When Music Completes the Painting**
The Ambassador offered heartfelt appreciation to:
- Rola Zaki, whose voice filled the evening with silken warmth.
- Nicholas, the Lebanese artist whose spontaneous performance lit the night with joy.
- And Soraya—the quiet star behind the scenes,
a presence without which the night could not have been complete.
An Anatolian Invitation
He reminded guests of the grand traditional Turkish wedding event on 20 November,
an evening of music, celebration, and authentic Turkish cuisine,
inviting attendees—if they wished—to support the Egyptian Red Crescent with a symbolic contribution.
