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Sharif's festival honour
 Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif and Farouk Hosni at the Cairo festival opening |
Egyptian film star Omar Sharif has been presented with a top honour at the Cairo International Film Festival, by his old screen pal Peter O'Toole.
O'Toole, who starred with Sharif in the 1962 movie classic Lawrence of Arabia, handed over the lifetime achievement award at the opening of the 23rd annual event.
"It's wonderful to be reunited with Omar Sharif in Arabia after all these years," said O'Toole, who at 67 is the same age as Sharif.
 Honoured: French actor Alain Delon |
Celebrated French actress Catherine Deneuve, who stars in Lars Von Trier's forthcoming film Dancer in the Dark, will be given the same honour at the closing ceremony on 4 December.
Also among the stars supporting the festival are Italian actress Valeria Golino and White Mischief star Greta Scacchi.
 French icon Catherine Deneuve will be closing the festival |
The international jury, led by French director Yves Boisset will award the prize.
Irish director Colm Villa's gangland drama Sunset Heights is among the competitors and Britain's Cathal Black is also in the running with Love and Rage.
Outside the competition, Cairo cinemas will be screening 157 films from 42 countries to mark the event.
Films from Iran, India, Poland, Brazil, France, Russia and the UK are included but Israeli films have once again been banned from the festival.
Festival director Hussein Fahmi said Israeli filmmakers would not be allowed to participate because their government "has not brought peace".
The US is showing the largest number of films this year - with 29 entries being screened including comedy Analyze This, starring Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal.
Last year's ceremony honoured eight actors including Italian actress Gina Loulou Brijeida and US actor and producer John Malkovich..
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 | 05 Aug 99 | Entertainment |
| O'Toole's triumphant return |
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