Conclusion of the “Art in Service of Society” Competition: Misr El Kheir Foundation and the Academy of Arts Transform Youth Creativity into Impactful Development Messages

23 June 2026

Dr. Hanan El-Derbashi: The competition embodies the role of art as an effective force in building awareness and promoting the values of development and social responsibility.

“The Sleeping Princess” wins first place in the short film category, and literary competition winners are honored.

Today marked the conclusion of the “Art in Service of Society” competition, a joint initiative between Misr El Kheir Foundation and the Academy of Arts. The competition aimed to harness the artistic and literary creativity of young people to address social and humanitarian issues through innovative approaches that help spread awareness and promote positive values within society.

During the closing ceremony, the competition results were announced. The short film “The Sleeping Princess” by young director Abdel Fattah Zidan won first place in the short film category. Mohamed Nasser Hashem Abdel Maqsoud received first place for the theatrical script “Before the Appointed Time,” Amgad Zahir Zakhary Azer won first place for the short film screenplay “A Thread of Light,” and Menatallah Tarek Mohamed Abdel Zaher won first place for the short story “Mending Is a Collective Responsibility.”

Dr. Hanan El-Derbashi, Head of the Social Solidarity and Debtors Sectors at Misr El Kheir Foundation, emphasized that the “Art in Service of Society” competition represents an outstanding model of integration between development and cultural institutions. She noted that it reflects the foundation’s belief in the importance of investing in young people’s creative talents and directing them toward serving community issues.

She added that art is one of the most important tools for building awareness, strengthening a sense of belonging, and reinforcing humanitarian values. The competition provided young participants with an opportunity to express their perspectives on various social issues through artistic and literary works carrying powerful messages capable of reaching diverse audiences.

She explained that the partnership with the Academy of Arts comes as part of the foundation’s commitment to supporting young talents and providing them with opportunities to actively contribute to community development. She stressed that when creativity is connected to societal issues, it becomes a genuine force for positive change.

Dr. Hossam Mohsen, Advisor to the President of the Academy of Arts, praised the partnership with Misr El Kheir Foundation, stating that the competition successfully presented a practical model for utilizing art in the service of society. He noted that the participating works reflected the artistic and cultural awareness of young people and their ability to address community issues through a responsible creative vision.

Dr. Amal Gamal Soliman, Consultant to the Lifestyle Sector at Misr El Kheir Foundation, also highlighted the sector’s efforts in supporting cultural and artistic activities that contribute to preserving Egyptian identity and developing awareness among children and youth.

Director Mohannad Diab emphasized the importance of documentaries and short films as effective means of conveying humanitarian and social messages. He pointed out that art possesses tremendous potential to create positive impact and enhance public awareness of various issues.

The celebration featured screenings of the films “Fatma” and “Qarun’s Wealth,” directed by Mohannad Diab, in addition to a selected collection of short films presented by participating students and graduates. These works explored a variety of social themes through innovative artistic perspectives.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, winners across all competition categories, as well as members of the judging panels, were honored in recognition of their contributions to the success of this initiative, which demonstrated art’s ability to serve as an active partner in development and community awareness-building.

Young director Abdel Fattah Zidan expressed his happiness at winning first place and thanked Misr El Kheir Foundation and the Academy of Arts for their support of young talents and for providing creative individuals with opportunities to present artistic works carrying meaningful humanitarian and social messages.

The event was attended by a distinguished group of media professionals, artists, and public figures, who expressed their appreciation for Misr El Kheir Foundation’s unique role in human development through its diverse projects and initiatives.