Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA- Late comedian actor Nihad Qalei, the godfather of Syrian TV comedy and one of the pillars of writing for cinema and theater, with his immortal works, was the character of the year at the 18th Syrian International Cartoon Festival, with the participation of 668 artists from 73 Arab and foreign countries, which opened on Saturday at Dar al-Assad for Culture and Arts.
The participant artists competed for portraying late Qalei from different artistic visions and perspectives, most of which reflected his comedian nature and the novelty of his creativity.
The festival began with screening a documentary film about the biography of Qalei who was born in Damascus in 1928 and died in 1993 after a long suffering from illness.
Artist, Raed Khalil, organizer of the festival, said that every year there is an approach to present something new, as the 18th session of the festival sought to mix music with color.
Khalil added that on this basis, international artists were invited to participate in a celebration about a creative figure who influenced Arab and international art through late Qalei.
Nisreen Othman/ Mazen Eyon
