Gihan El Shamashergy: After watching the film "Remember Me," I truly felt that cinema has a magical power.

Earlier today, the film program "Our Photo" was held as part of the Medfest-Egypt forum at the American University. Four films were screened: "The Day I Saw You" directed by Mohamed Hani, "A Week and Two Days" directed by Marwa Zein, "Ghost Gear," "Do You Remember?" and "Emily."

A discussion followed, moderated by critic Ahmed Nabil, featuring actress Gihan El Shamashergy, director Yehia Ismail, and psychiatrist Dr. Mostafa El-Nahas.

Gihan El Shamashergy mentioned how deeply she was moved by the last three films, particularly "Ghost Gear." She said the look the girl gave her parents in the movie was heart-wrenching. She added that preparing a child for the reality of separation is crucial because, in any scenario, the concept of separation is painful. She also talked about how she connects emotionally with the roles she plays, explaining that she tries to immerse herself in the character by asking herself questions. She felt every emotion while working on "Remember Me," which made her realize how enchanting cinema can be.

Dr. Mostafa El-Nahas commented on the profound impact of separation, emphasizing that children constantly need to know what’s going on. When discussing separation with children, it's important not to take them out of their comfort zone too abruptly, as it could traumatize them for life. Proper preparation is key.

Director Yehia Ismail added that separation can cause emotional issues for children, who might associate the memory of the event with the place where the discussion happened. He expressed his admiration for the final film, especially the powerful expression of anger by the woman. He also noted that listening to emotions doesn’t necessarily mean acting on them, and stressed the importance of psychology for filmmakers, both in directing actors and in the writing process.

It's worth mentioning that Medfest-Egypt is the first short-film forum in the Middle East and North Africa, established in 2017. The festival explores the intersection of cinema and health, using films as a medium to raise awareness about important health issues.

The festival is being held from September 12th to 15th at the American University in downtown Cairo, Tahrir Square.

The forum brings together cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers, and doctors. Its aim is to share human stories with audiences, students, artists, filmmakers, and especially psychiatrists, through various workshops, discussions, and film screenings. These sessions tackle socially stigmatized topics, promoting a more accepting approach to sensitive issues across Egypt and the world.