Cinema: Hend Sabri, shinning star at Marrakech film festival

By Karima Rhanem | Morocco TIMES 11/15/2005 | 5:45 pm

Marrakech---At the age of 25, controversial Tunisian actress Hend Sabri is already a member of a distinguished jury who will select the best film to be awarded the Golden Star at the Marrakech International Film Festival currently being held in the Moroccan southern city on Nov. 11-19.


“It is my first experience to be member of a jury and I am so proud to be among a distinguished one,” Hind Sabri told Morocco Times.

The young talented actress added that she “is so happy to be selected to come to Marrakech and that she highly respects the jury from whom she is learning a lot.” she added.

Members of the jury include, along with Hend Sabri, Annaud (president of the jury), Abdelkebir Khatibi (Moroccan writer), Deepa Mehta (Indian director), Stefania Rocca (Italian actress), Leonor Silveira (Portugeese actress), Idrissa Ouedraogo (director from Burkina Faso) and Mary Sweeney (American screenwriter, producer and editor).

The Marrakech festival is featuring 124 films, 16 in competition, including 10 first or second features, from 15 different countries.

Born in Tunisia in the early 1980s, Sabri made her debut at the age of 14 in "The Silences of the Palace," Moufida Tlatli's much celebrated film about women trapped in a world of male dominance.

After a series of roles in Tunisian films, controversial Egyptian director Inas Al Daghidi cast her in "The Diary of a Teenager," a candid look at the world of a young Egyptian teenager.

Critics have attacked Sabri for her 'risky roles' involving passionate love scenes. But Sabri insisted that moviegoers are more concerned about story and performance than labels critics create to pigeon-hole actors and movies.

Sabri considers herself to be open minded and daring. Her last few films did not contain the kind of intimate scenes she became known for since moving to Egypt in 2000. Her recent films were critically acclaimed and successful.

She featured along with Hani Salama and Tamer Hosni in "A State of Love". The film topped the Egyptian box office and established her as one of Egypt's premier young actresses.

Despite her success in the cinema, Sabri's dreams were bigger than what she had already accomplished; one of her many goals was to finish her studies in Law and obtain her Masters Degree.

Hend Sabri has made successful new movies and secured her place among the many stars in the show business. In 2003, the actress played a leading role in Ahla Al-Awkat. . The movie was a big success and featured a number of female stars; like Hanan Turk, Mena Shalaby.

She has also recently won a Best Actress award for her role in "The Best of Times" at an Egyptian Film Festival.

Sabri said “she is happy to win an award for the fourth time for her role in "The Best of Times".

Hend also featured in 'Halet Hob' alongside actor Hani Salama, singer/actor Tamer Housny, Donya and Zeina.

Sabri's latest project is a starring role alongside Adel Imam, Nour El Sherif, Yusra and Ilham Shahine in Jacobian's Building."