Under the auspices of Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, the 18th International Festival of the Theater Department for Specialized Theater Departments and Institutes concluded yesterday evening, Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

The festival was organized by the Theater Department of the Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University, at the Grand Theater of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

This session was named after the artist Fathy Abdel Wahab, in honor of his artistic career and in recognition of his role in enriching Arab theater and cinema. In his speech, Abdel Wahab expressed his great happiness and pride in this honor, emphasizing that academic studies were a fundamental pillar of his artistic career, as they honed his talent and gave him the ability to deeply understand texts, craft characters, and engage with audiences with awareness and creativity. Abdel Wahab emphasized that theater remains the first home that embraces artists and elevates their spirits. He expressed his great happiness with the creative youth performances that reflected renewed energy and a determination to innovate, proving that theater remains capable of bringing hearts together, unifying visions, and delivering sublime human messages, as it is the greatest invention in the world.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Sudani, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts for Community Service and Environmental Development, described this edition as exceptional, given its rich artistic and cultural offerings, making it a shining milestone in the festival's history. He explained that the event was not merely about artistic performances, but rather a celebration of humanity and an affirmation of the importance of art as a bridge between peoples. He also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all participating countries, including the UAE, Jordan, Italy, Spain, and Greece, as well as the Egyptian troupes, for their performances that embodied the spirit of cooperation and innovation and contributed to enriching the theatrical scene. He noted that the festival is a celebration of identity, humanity, and the language understood by all peoples: the language of the stage, voice, movement, and action.

For her part, Dr. Manal Fouda, Head of the Theater Department, expressed her great pride in the achievements of this year's festival, emphasizing that the festival has become a true platform for honing students' talents, developing their abilities, and enhancing their artistic and academic presence. She noted the diversity that characterized the performances, reflecting the participants' openness to various theater schools and contemporary techniques, contributing to the presentation of innovative works that combined intellectual depth with visual beauty.

The six-day festival featured a variety of theatrical performances that combined classical and contemporary styles, distinguished by new directing techniques. This provided audiences and critics with an exceptional opportunity to enjoy a rich theatrical spectacle that expresses the spirit of youth and embodies the blend of cultures in a sophisticated artistic form.

The closing ceremony featured the distribution of the festival's awards, honoring the top three winning teams. Special awards were also given for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Actor, and Best Supporting Actor in recognition of their outstanding artistic efforts and creativity.

During the ceremony, director Sameh Bassiouni, director of the Vanguard Theatre, announced that prizes would be awarded to the winning teams. These teams will be given the opportunity to train at the Vanguard Theatre, a first step toward professionalization and honing their skills, opening up new horizons for them in the world of professional theatre.

Dr. Gamal Yaqout, festival supervisor, extended his deep gratitude to all those involved in organizing the festival, including committees, technical teams, volunteers, and everyone who worked behind the scenes. He praised their dedication to presenting a festival befitting the history of Alexandria University and its leading position in the Arab and international cultural scene.