Major General Hany Rashad, Governor of Suez, held an extensive meeting with the management of the VS-FILM Very Short Film Festival to review the details of the festival’s third edition, scheduled to take place from October 28 to November 1, 2026, in the cities of Suez, Ain Sokhna, and Galala. The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohamed Allam, Deputy Governor, and Dr. Osama Abonar, President of the Festival.

Major General Hany Rashad welcomed the governorate’s hosting of this cultural event, emphasizing that choosing Suez reflects its role as a national beacon and a strategic location that combines history and modernity. He stressed that the governorate is set to host a cinematic event that reflects the spirit of youth and supports the state’s direction toward promoting cultural tourism and refined arts as tools for development and awareness.

He pointed out that the festival represents a real opportunity to engage young people in creative activities that enhance their sense of belonging and refine their talents. He added: “We are planning to expand the festival’s impact through film screenings, seminars, and cinematic workshops held in universities, schools, and youth centers, with an open invitation to Suez talents to participate with their works and interact closely with filmmakers.”

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Allam, Deputy Governor, emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of art in building civil society through open workshops, artistic meetings, seminars, and field screenings in the streets of Suez, its clubs, and cultural centers. He said: “We believe that culture does not live only in closed halls, but breathes among people. Therefore, the accompanying activities will extend to include profound themes and intensive artistic expressions that address current issues through a modern and visually condensed language.”

In turn, Dr. Osama Abonar, President of the Festival, stated that the new edition comes with doubled ambitions, aiming to transform the festival into an Arab and international platform that embraces young creators. He added: “The very short film is the art of the future, as it keeps pace with the rhythm of the times and provides opportunities for a larger number of new voices to express their issues using innovative cinematic tools.” He promised that the third edition would be more diverse in terms of programming, activities, and guests.

It is worth noting that the VS-FILM Very Short Film Festival is organized by Maqam Foundation for Culture and Media and is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Suez Governorate, the Academy of Arts, the Syndicate of Cinematic Professions, and the General Union of Arab Artists.