Organizers of the Egyptian Catholic Center Film Festival canceled its 2011 edition, citing security risks. Due to recent sectarian unrest the festival was thus limited to offering awards through a closing ceremony held on Friday amid tight security.
Father Botrous Danial, the center's chairman, attributed the cancelation to escalating tension between Copts and Salafi Muslims in Cairo. He said that security authorities had assured them that events could run as usual.
But "all these tensions made me concerned for festival guests. I am anxious that every single guest goes back home safely," Danial told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Minister of Culture Emad Abu Ghazi, said the current state of panic due to sectarian unrest has to end. He made assurances that the gains achieved by the 25 January revolution will be protected.
The Catholic Center was founded in 1952 by leading Catholics in Egypt. Since then, it has regularly organized an annual film festival.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
