A visa request by Syrian filmmaker Mohamed Malas was turned down by Egyptian authorities on Monday.
Malas, who was in Egypt during the month of May, was scheduled to return to head the Jury at the Ismailia international film festival 17th edition which kicks off today and lasts until the 8th of June.
No reasons are yet known on why Malas was refused entry.
An informed source told Ahram Online that Greek filmmaker Dimitris Koutsiabaskos will replace the Syrian director as Jury head.
Malas was honoured last month by Zawya, the newly-renovated Odeon Cinema in downtown Cairo, with the screening of four of his widely-acclaimed films- Dreams of the City, The Night, Passion and Ladder to Damascus.
Source: Ahram Online