Cairo Film Festival Artistic Director Resigns Over Inflammatory Social Media and Blog Posts

Egyptian film critic Ahmed Shawky has resigned from his role as artistic director of the Cairo International Film Festival after inflammatory social media and blog posts of his resurfaced that led to calls for his removal.

The news of Shawky’s resignation was announced by the festival’s advisory board on Wednesday, according to the AP. He was appointed to the position this year after serving as acting artistic director for 2019’s festival.

Shawky drew criticism when in 2014 he referred in a blog post to a 2012 soccer riot in Egypt that left 70 people dead. Shawky suggested that those killed, many of whom were hardcore fans of the team, were “culled” in the accident and were inferior or were selectively killed, according to AP.

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AP also cited another post in which in 2013 following the death of the daughter of a Muslim Brotherhood leader, Shawky said that “no one should feel sorry for her,” adding, “If I know someone like her…I would kill her with my own hands.”

Shawky earlier this week apologized for his past statements, and according to AP, he resigned as to not “imperil” the image of the Cairo International Film Festival but said that he was being targeted by a “smear campaign accusing me of violence, sexism and homophobia!”

“I confess in some personal writings dating back to 2014, I used hurtful words related to the fans of Ahly and the victims of Port Said. I apologize for them. I am aware they caused pain to the families of the departed,” Shawky said in a statement via Ahram Online.

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Shawky has since shut down and protected his social media accounts.

The 2020 Cairo International Film Festival is scheduled to take place November 19-28, and the festival said it will continue with preparations.

“The Cairo International Film Festival is committed to proceeding with preparations for the 42nd edition and will announce further plans within the coming weeks while continuing to uphold our principles of championing diversity, bridging cultures, encouraging dialogue, celebrating new voices, and providing a platform for film talent from around the world and contributing to the development of the local and regional film industry,” the festival said in a release via Ahram Online.

Representatives for the festival did not immediately respond to TheWrap for comment.

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Clare Burgess, Sharon Waxman, and Leonid Solovyev of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Leonid Solovyev and Clare Burgess of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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"Sergio" producer Daniel Dreifous, producer Joe Pichirallo, Dean of USC School of Cinematic Arts Elizabeth Daley at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Director Julie Taymor, composer Elliot Goldenthal, actor DW Moffett, and "The Glorias" producer Lynn Hendee at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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GLAAD's Jeremy Blacklow, "Disclosure" director Sam Feder and actor Harvey Guillén at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Panelists at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
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TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman with GLAAD's Jeremy Blacklow, director Patricia Vidal Delgado, actor Harvey Guillén, actor Frankie Rodriguez and producer Taryn Arriola at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
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Producer Paula Silver, Sharon Waxman and actor DW Moffett at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Jeremy Blacklow speaks at a panel at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
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Rodriguez and Ariola at a panel at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
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Panelists at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
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Actor Harvey Guillén at TheWrap's panel at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
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Panelists with Latinx House co-founder Monica Ramirez at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
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Guests at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Sharon Waxman, director Chris Miller, and Studios 101's Heather Phillips at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Attorney Steven Beer and guest at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Sharon Waxman at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Guests at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Guests at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Leonid Solovyev, Clare Burgess, Sharon Waxman, and Dean Daley at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Clare Burgess speaks at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Guests at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Director Chris Miller and Studio 101's Heather Phillips attend a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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TheWrap's Sharon Waxman greets director Maïmoune Doucuré at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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“The Dissident” director Bryan Fogel and friend attend a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Guests at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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"Sergio" producer Daniel Dreifous, "Disclosure" producer Amy Scholder, "Disclosure" director Sam Feder, and GLAAD's Jeremy Blacklow at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Guests at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Clare Burgess, Sharon Waxman, and Leonid Solovyev of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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"Cuties" director Maïmoune Doucuré speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Guests at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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"The Glorias" producer Lynn Hendee and actor DW Moffett at TheWrap's influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Producer Joe Pichirallo at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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GLAAD's Jeremy Blacklow at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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"Disclosure" producer Amy Scholder and GLAAD's Anthony Ramos at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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DW Moffett at the annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Director Sam Feder speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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GLAAD's Anthony Ramos speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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"Sergio" producer Daniel Dreifous speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Leonid Solovyev speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Studios 101's James Allen speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Composer Elliot Goldenthal speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Dean Daley at TheWrap's influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Bryan Fogel speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Filmmaker Aviva Kempner speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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Guests at TheWrap's influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
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