SITFY Hungary Opens a New Global Stage for Arab Youth Theatre
Egyptian director and theatre producer Mazen El Gharabawy officially announced the formation of the founding supreme committee of SITFY Hungary International Theatre Festival, bringing together renowned artists and cultural experts from Egypt, Hungary, Georgia, and Qatar in a major step toward strengthening global cultural dialogue and youth theatre exchange.
🎭 The international theatre scene is witnessing a major cultural milestone with the official launch of the first edition of SITFY Hungary International Theatre Festival, an ambitious project that expands the global vision of Sharm El Sheikh International Youth Theatre Festival.
The festival will be chaired by Egyptian director and producer Mazen El Gharabawy, one of the leading figures in Arab youth theatre, recognized for building international cultural bridges and supporting independent theatrical movements across the region. 🌍✨
Scheduled to take place from June 8 to June 13 in Hungary, the festival aims to create a powerful platform for artistic exchange between Eastern and Western theatre communities through performances, workshops, discussions, and collaborative cultural experiences.
🎬 SITFY Hungary is considered an international extension of Sharm El Sheikh International Youth Theatre Festival, which has rapidly evolved into one of the most influential theatre events dedicated to young artists in the Middle East and beyond.
Over the years, Mazen El Gharabawy has built a remarkable artistic journey that started at a young age. He founded the first acting team at the Faculty of Arts at Ain Shams University before graduating with distinction from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Egypt.
He later directed several acclaimed theatre productions including “Oedipus Rex,” “We Will Write a New Constitution,” and “Beckett or the Honor of God,” earning critical recognition for his bold theatrical vision and innovative directing style. 🎭
✨ His achievements include winning Egypt’s State Encouragement Award for Artistic Creativity, in addition to receiving the Best Integrated Theatre Performance Award at the Besançon International Festival in France. He is also widely recognized for his academic and training contributions to theatre education.
🌍 The founding committee of SITFY Hungary includes internationally respected theatre figures such as Georgian theatre scholar Levan Khetaguri, a specialist in theatre studies and cultural policy who serves within the International Theatre Institute affiliated with UNESCO.
Hungarian director Ádám Berzsenyi also joins the committee, bringing extensive experience in European theatre management and classical stage productions.
From Qatar, theatre producer and actor Hamad Abdul Redha contributes his expertise in youth theatre and cultural development, reflecting the festival’s commitment to Arab artistic collaboration.
🎭 Another key participant is Mark Monostori-Kalovits from Hungary, a public official involved in culture, education, and sustainable development initiatives, emphasizing the growing role of arts in social cohesion and community development.
The festival is organized in cooperation with the International Theatre Institute in Hungary and the Latinovits Theatre in Budaörs, aiming to establish stronger artistic partnerships between Europe and the Arab world while empowering emerging theatre talents. 🌟
Industry observers believe the launch of SITFY Hungary represents a major turning point for Arab youth theatre, especially as the festival focuses not only on performances but also on long-term cultural dialogue, artistic development, and international networking opportunities.
🎬 The announcement also comes as preparations continue for the 11th edition of Sharm El Sheikh International Youth Theatre Festival, expected to attract broad Arab and international participation later this year.
The upcoming edition will honor legendary Egyptian actress Soheir El Morshedy, while celebrated actress Elham Shahin will serve as honorary president, with producer Hesham Soliman heading the festival’s supreme committee.
✨ Through these international initiatives, Sharm El Sheikh International Youth Theatre Festival continues to strengthen its position as one of the region’s most influential cultural platforms supporting young artists and fostering global theatrical collaboration.
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