Prof. Dr. Ashraf Haenigel, President of Suez University, received a delegation from the management of the VS-FILM Very Short Film Festival to discuss ways of joint cooperation and the possibility of organizing and hosting the third edition of the festival in the city of Suez, hosted by Suez University in cooperation with the Governorate of Suez, led by His Excellency Major General A.H. Hany Rashad Ali, Governor of Suez, from October 28 to November 1, 2026.
The delegation included:
- Dr. Osama Abu Nar – Festival President
- Mr. Qadri Al-Hajjar – Festival Director
- Mr. Ahmed Al-Najjar – Media Director
- Mr. Mohamed Abdel Aziz – Legal Advisor and Deputy Festival Director
During the meeting, both parties discussed the mechanisms of cooperation between Suez University and the “Maqam” Foundation for Culture and Media, within the framework of the protocol scheduled to be signed between the two sides. The protocol aims to establish fruitful academic, training, and cultural cooperation, contributing to the support of creative and cultural activities, providing specialized training programs for university students, and activating the role of the VS-FILM Very Short Film Festival in bridging the gap between academia and practical application in the fields of filmmaking and media production.
Prof. Dr. Ashraf Haenigel, President of Suez University, welcomed the cooperation with the festival organizers, pointing out that art is one of the most important tools of soft power that contributes to building the awareness and character of citizens—especially youth and university students—due to its influential role in developing cultural and creative sensibilities and enhancing values of belonging and community participation.
The University President explained that Suez University places great importance on cultural and artistic activities that provide students with real opportunities for learning, training, and gaining practical experience, emphasizing that hosting major artistic and cultural events will support the educational environment and open new horizons for students to interact with professional and creative expertise.
For their part, the members of the festival delegation expressed their appreciation for the warm reception, praising the role played by Suez University in supporting cultural and artistic activities, and affirming their aspiration for a fruitful partnership that contributes to delivering a distinguished edition of the festival, reflecting the cultural standing of the city of Suez and enhancing its role in supporting arts and creativity.
In turn, Dr. Osama Abu Nar, Festival President, affirmed that the cooperation between the festival and Suez University marks the beginning of a new phase in the festival’s journey. Abu Nar stated that under the cooperation protocol to be signed in the coming hours, the university will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival’s third edition on October 28 and 31, 2026, alongside a number of events, film screenings, and specialized workshops on filmmaking from the initial idea to the display screen.