
Hossam Badrawi and University Youth
The Al-Samer Theatre in Agouza hosted an exceptional closing ceremony for the eighth edition of the Cairo International University Theatre Festival at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026. The event was attended by a distinguished gathering of theatre professionals and young creative talents from various countries.
The evening opened with the national anthem, followed by a special musical performance by the talented singer Suzan Mokhtar. A short documentary was then screened, highlighting the festival’s most successful milestones and memorable moments from previous editions. This was followed by another film documenting the activities of the current edition, featuring live footage that captured the spirit of connection and joy shared by participants from around the world.
In his opening remarks, director Omar Kabil, President of the Festival, welcomed the audience. He was followed by Dr. Hossam Badrawi, Chairman of the Festival’s Supreme Committee and its patron, who took to the stage to deliver his address.
Dr. Badrawi emphasized that “art is the joy of life, and culture is the foundation upon which our consciousness is built.” He stressed the importance of giving greater attention to promoting the arts and extended special thanks to the Ministries of Culture and Higher Education for their genuine support and generous patronage of this prominent event.
The ceremony concluded with the award presentations and the announcement of the festival’s recommendations. The Colombian production won the award for Best Overall Performance, in addition to awards for lighting and music.
The Best Theatre Direction award went to director Maged Al-Oufi, while Nirvana El-Khatib received the Special Jury Award for her performance in the Egyptian production Kiosk.
In the Best Actress category, Tunisia took first place, while Colombian actress Mariana Farfan came in second.
In playwriting, the script The Labyrinth won the award for Best Play. Omani writer Mohammed Hamdani also received a certificate of appreciation for his script The Last Death.
The ceremony was truly magnificent and exceptionally well organized. It reflected the tremendous efforts of the organizing team, whose remarkable professionalism earned the admiration and appreciation of everyone in attendance.
The gathering came to an end with participants exchanging commemorative photographs in an atmosphere filled with energy and happiness.



