At the Cannes Film Festival, Egyptian director Haya Khairat will create history when she becomes the first Arab woman to win the esteemed Angénieux Special Encouragement Award. This honor, which has been given to up-and-coming filmmakers since 2018, is given in memory of the late French engineer and creator of the modern zoom lens, Pierre Angénieux.
Khairat took to Instagram to express her excitement about the honor. In a caption for her post, she wrote, "Grateful, happy and humbled beyond words to be selected for an Angénieux encouragement award this year alongside the great DOP Barry Ackroyd taking place at the Festival de Cannes."
Khairat's passion for art started early with simple photographs. On Sundays, her father used to take her to various locations in Cairo to shoot pictures and on the way home, they would develop the photos in a studio. She later pursued photography professionally at the age of 16 and went on to study filmmaking at the High Cinema Institute in Cairo.
As a cinematographer, Khairat made her debut with the film 'Dark Chocolate,' which won the Audience's Best Short Film Award at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2019. She also won the Silver Lynx at the 2020 Dubai Lynx Awards for her work as a director and director of photography for the 'Zero Tolerance Ribbon' FGM campaign. Khairat's work delves into the multifaceted nature of Egyptian society, exposing its social and cultural spheres.
The award ceremony for the Angénieux Special Encouragement Award will be held on Friday, May 26, at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. Khairat will receive Angénieux camera equipment as part of the prize for her forthcoming project. This recognition puts her in esteemed company, as previous recipients of the award include filmmakers from China, India, Mexico, and the Netherlands in previous years.
Khairat's historic achievement as the first Egyptian to receive this prestigious award at Cannes is a testament to her talent, dedication, and contribution to the world of filmmaking. She expressed her gratitude and determination, stating, "I'm very overwhelmed and grateful to be going to Cannes as a filmmaker, and I won't stop until my film makes it into the festival." With her passion for art and her unique perspective on Egyptian society, Khairat is poised to continue making a significant impact in the world of film.
