Cinema, Obama chatter at Cairo film festival (Feature)

By Nehal el-Sherif Nov 20, 2008, 2:12 GMT

Cairo - The Cairo International Film Festival was as much about politics as it was about cinema, with discussions ranging from celebrity activism to the historic victory of US president-elect Barack Obama.

Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon said all films were political, even those not categorized as such.

A vocal critic of the US invasion of Iraq, Sarandon told reporters at CIFF, 'I do not think of myself as outspoken, but as someone who asks questions.'

She used an interesting phrase to describe an activist: 'When you use your imagination, you develop empathy and when you develop empathy you become an activist.'

When asked about her impressions of the portrayal of Arabs in Hollywood films, the 62-year-old said she was against stereotyping all minorities on screen.

'Lots of people challenge stereotypes. I don't know how we are portrayed in your cinema. There is a misconception about Arab women as well as US women. You have enlightened filmmakers and stupid filmmakers. It is something we have in common,' she told reporters.

But by far the favourite topic at the festival was Obama. When Sarandon was asked whether his victory would affect Hollywood, the longtime Democrat and critic of US President George W Bush, said: 'Surely television will be different. Bush made comedy so much stronger. Obama is not that funny, I hope (Republican vice- presidential candidate) Sarah Palin stays around a little.'

US actor Goldie Hawn said, 'He is a good man, has a lot of integrity. We hope this is the answer to create a more peaceful resolution for the US and the world.'

In fact, Obama was one of the stars at the festival's opening ceremony late Tuesday, despite not attending. When Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni inaugurated CIFF, he mentioned the man who will be the US' first African American president.

'New world political amendments are signifying changes and maturity of international minds, transcending the barrier of colour and race,' Hosni said.

Sarandon, who received a lifetime achievement award at the opening ceremony, also spoke of her enthusiasm about Obama. 'This is a particularly wonderful time for me to be representing the US because we are experiencing a renewed sense of hope and possibility in the election of Barack Hussein Obama.'

Sarandon's statement won her a huge round of applause that night, and the next day she was widely praised for using Obama's Arabic middle name - a gesture appreciated by several Egyptians.