Prof. Dr. Ashraf Hnijal, SU President, received a delegation from the VS. FILM Festival for very short films to discuss avenues for cooperation and the possibility of organizing and hosting the third edition of the festival in Suez, hosted by Suez University in cooperation with the Suez Governorate under the leadership of Major General Hani Rashad Ali, Governor of Suez, from October 28 through November 1, 2026.

The delegation included:

- Dr. Osama Abu Nar – Festival Chair.

- Mr. Qadri Al-Hajjar – Festival Director.

- Mr. Ahmed Al-Najjar – Media Director.

- Mr. Muhammad Abdulaziz – Legal Advisor and Deputy Festival Director.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed mechanisms for cooperation between Suez University and the “Maqam” Foundation for Culture and Media, within the framework of the protocol to be signed between the two parties, which aims to establish fruitful scientific, training, and cultural cooperation that will contribute to supporting creative and cultural activities and providing specialized training programs for university students, as well as leveraging the role of VS.FILM in bridging the gap between academia and practical application in the fields of filmmaking and media production.

Prof. Dr. Ashraf Hnijal, SU President, expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with the festival organizers, noting that art is one of the most important tools of soft power that contributes to shaping citizens’ awareness and character, especially among youth and university students, given its influential role in developing cultural and creative sensibilities and reinforcing the values of belonging and community participation.

The SU president explained that Suez University places great emphasis on cultural and artistic activities that provide students with genuine opportunities for learning, training, and gaining practical experience, emphasizing that hosting major artistic and cultural events supports the educational environment and opens new horizons for students to engage with professional and creative experiences.

For their part, members of the festival delegation expressed their appreciation for the warm welcome, praising the role played by Suez University in supporting cultural and artistic activities, and affirming their hope for a fruitful partnership that will contribute to presenting an outstanding edition of the festival, reflecting the cultural stature of the Suez Governorate and reinforcing its role in supporting the arts and creativity.

For his part, Dr. Osama Abonar, the festival’s president, affirmed that the cooperation between the festival and Suez University marks the beginning of a new phase in the festival’s journey.

“Abunar” said: “Under the cooperation protocol scheduled to be signed in the coming hours, the university will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival’s third edition on October 28 and 31, 2026, as well as several events, film screenings, and workshops on filmmaking from idea to the display screen.”