Lead:
Mustafa Khudair al-Portsaidi, a leading figure in Arabic calligraphy who received the Kufa Prize in 1995 and the Kuwait International Kazima Festival gold medal, has passed away at age 77 after a career enriching the craft across Egypt and the Arab world, announced by Awqaf Minister Osama al-Azhari.
Top Stories:
Suhair al-Marshdii — The veteran actress signaled a possible return to theatre after years away, but only if she finds a script that advances her artistic trajectory and serves audiences. She noted the one role she would revisit is the Saidi woman seeking vengeance, as she believes it carries a message for social change."Metwalli and Shafika" — The theatrical production from the Tali'a Theatre Company won four awards at the Sharm al-Sheikh International Youth Theatre Festival, including Muhammad Frid receiving the Muhammad Hassan al-Jondi Prize for Best Actor and Yosra al-Menssy winning the Shereen al-Tahan Prize for Best Actress.Ahmed al-Aoudy — The actor celebrated the launch of filming for his new series "Sultan al-Dieb," scheduled for Ramadan 2027, after residents of Ain Shams erected a banner welcoming him and expressing anticipation for the broadcast.Mohamed Tarek — The artistic director of the Cairo International Film Festival confirmed the "New Wave" program will welcome 100 young talents, 70 from outside Cairo, to attend screenings and activities during the 47th edition from 11-20 November, expanding access to cinema beyond the capital.Julien Dassin — The French musician, son of the late singer Joe Dassin, is performing at the Egyptian Opera House this evening with orchestra "Paris Tour Eiffel," presenting classics from his father's catalogue under the "Joe Dassin Story" world tour.Fadhel Shaker — The Lebanese singer performed at Abdul Aziz Arena in Jeddah with his son Muhammad Shaker on stage, featuring a duet with Yara on their 2006 collaboration "Khudni Ma'ak" that marked their first live performance together of the song.Coming Up:
The 47th Cairo International Film Festival opens 11-20 November, with programming prioritising young filmmakers from Egyptian provinces. Elissa performs in Abu Dhabi on 19 December following the independent release of her 14-track album "Alissar."