Aswan International Women Film Festival announced the honoring of renowned actress Mohsena Tawfik and starlet Menna Shalaby during the 3rd edition of the festival due to be held on February 20-26, 2019.

President of the festival screenwriter Mohamed Abdel Khalek said the festival was keen on honoring one of the icons of the Egyptian cinema as well as a young star.

Abdel Khalek added that the festival is proud to honor Mohsena Tawfik who participated in a number of films including Les Miserables directed by Atef Salem, Dail el Samakah directed by Samir Seif, Night's Heart and The Piper directed by Atef el Tayyeb, Alexandria.. Why? and Goodbye, Bonaparte directed by Youssef Shahin whom she also worked with in The Sparrow in which she portrayed her most famous character Behya.

Director of the festival journalist Hassan Aboul Ella said that starlet Menna Shalaby represents the future of the Egyptian cinema. She is among actresses who are keen on participating in distinguished films including The Magician directed by Radwan el Kashef, My Soul Mate directed by Khaled Youssef and This is Chaos directed by Youssef Shahin and Khaled Youssef, Downtown Girls directed by Mohamed Khan, The Natives and Diamond Dust directed by Marwan Hamed, Best Times and Nawara directed by Hala Khalil. Shalaby received seven awards from Arab and international film festivals over her role in Nawara.

Aboul Ella added that Menna Shalaby is considered one of the most important young stars in Egypt and the Arab world after she portrayed a number of magnificent roles that reflected the political and social reality.

Mohsena Tawfik acted in about 70 films, TV series and plays. She was born in 1939. Tawfik was graduated from Agriculture Faculty in 1968. Her fist film as an actress is Honor Crime 1971. She has two sisters; presenter of children programs on radio Fadila Tawfiq aka Abla Fadila and opera singer Yousra Tawfik. She is a mother of two; Wael and Azza. She started acting in theater in A Beauty Tragedy in 1962 then in Agamemnon  in 1966.

Menna Shalaby acted in about 54 films and TV series. She appeared as an actress for the first time in Salma Ya Salama TV series.

Aswan International Women Film Festival is organized by the culture and tourism ministries and is held under the auspices of National Council for Women and Cinema Professions Syndicate.