Merzak Allouach, Abdennour Zahzah awarded at Luxor African film festival

filmmakers Merzak Allouache and Abdennour Zahzah won the Special Jury Prize and the Prize for the Best Artistic Contribution respectively as part of the 3rd Luxor African Film Festival which wrapped up Monday in Egypt, announced Tuesday the festival’s organizers.Merzak Allouache, who competed with his feature film “Es Stouh” (The Terraces) against 13 other films for the festival’s first prize, received the “Silver Mask of Tuntankhamen” and a distinction amounting to USD3000.Abdennour Zahzah was awarded for his documentary « El oued el oued » (River river).The Nile Grand Award, the festival’s first prize, was awarded to Rwandan filmmaker Joel Karekeszi for "Ibabazi" (The Forgiveness) by a jury made up, among others, of Algerian filmmaker Ahmed Rachedi.A total of 80 films from 41 African countries were competing in this third edition which took place in Southern Egypt from 18 to 24 March.