The 6th Dear Guest Festival

On the night of January 29th 2010, at the Canyon Ballroom, Fairmont Towers Heliopolis Hotel - elegance, sophistication and sheer excitement united. Glitz and glam graced the red carpet, as celebrities promenaded in haute couture - exhibiting the season’s hottest fashion, while many celebrities took a break from filming to attend the 6th DG Festival Awards Ceremony with exuberance and sheer appreciation. Stars bravely strutted down the carpet to face the media, who would compliment the evening. Even with winter fashion in full effect, color was no stranger to the night. Many celebrities wore richly-colored gowns that glistened and gleamed in the spotlight. This year marks DG’s 6th Award ceremony, and it was covered by over 50 Satellite channels and correspondents. While most of Egypt was fast asleep after tuning into the Awards night, we were busy abusing the remotes - pausing and rewinding the red carpet coverage to get a detailed review of everyone! Since it was the pinnacle of award show season, we anticipated the usual overflow of jaw-dropping ensembles. Read on as we give you the hottest scoop and an exclusive coverage of what we anticipate will be the year’s most talked about buzz, honoring the year’s most excellent and deserving accomplishments within various music, cinema, TV and Radio categories – making it a night for celebration, exhilaration and admiration…

 

By 9:30pm all the guests had arrived - thus began an exquisite night; there is no doubt that Possy Shalaby captivated the crowd with her glittering gown as she hosted and charmed the evening with supreme precision. The DG Festival night opened with a violinist who took center stage and hypnotized the guests of celebrity with a pleasurable tune as the melody filled the ballroom to entertain the attentive audience delivering an array of rhythms. Chairman Maged Hosny expressed a succinct speech to welcome the guests. This years Festival was held in the loving memory of the late Roushdy Abaza, and both his daughter Kesmat and grandson Adham were in attendance to accept the award. Egyptian Cinema and TV icon Nour El Sherif won an award for his role in ‘Al Rahya’ & ‘Matkhafoush’. Dearly loved Ilham Shaheen, unrivaled Ragaa El Gedawy, dazzling Athar El Hakeem and celebrated Salah Abdullah, were also among the honorees awarded for their success story as their names continue to be recognized with eminence among legendary prodigies. The highlydeserving Hisham Abbas beamed on stage while performing his vastly commendable nationalistic winning song, and earned himself two awards. Best video clip ‘Matbataleesh’ and best song; ‘Ah Ya Ghalia’. Amr Diab was voted best singer, and his album ‘Wayah’ won the award for best album, whilst Shereen Abdul Wahab won her award for best Female singer throughout 2009. Amr Adib had Rasha El Sayed and Ayman Fayed attend to accept the awards on his behalf, for best male TV presenter, and his talk show “Al Qahira Al Youm” won an award for best program. Mona El Shazly was voted best female TV presenter.

 

Then the highlight of the show came when best youth male singer, Loay mesmerized each and every one with his performance of “Baladna” which touched us all in celebration after Egypt’s phenomenal 4 – 0 win over Algeria. Egypt’s Sweetheart, Mona Zaki won the award for best actress in recognition of her outstandingly impressive roles in both ‘Ehky ya Sharazad’ and ‘Welad El Am’ which also won the Best Picture award for 2009. While the charming Ahmed Ezz who persistently seeks to take on new roles, won the award for best actor.Ahmed Helmy’s latest movie ‘Alf Mabrouk’ won him the award for best comedian actor, and the light-hearted words spoken on stage while accepting his award confirmed his witty sense of humor. Multi-talented Donia Samir Ghanem continues to entertain us all with her amusingly nifty style winning this year’s best comedian actress.

 

 

Amr Waked was conferred for his role in ‘Ibrahim El Abyad’ along with Rehab El Gamel who also won an award for best supporting actress. The best TV supporting actress award went to the attractive Rania Youssef for her pioneering role in ‘Harb El Gawsis’. Fresh young talent Yosra El Lozy was voted a winner too and took home the award as best TV rising actress for her role in ‘Khass Gidan’, along with Ahmed Falwakes who was also awarded in this grouping. Promising talents Hassan El Radad and enchanting Sherien Adel were also awarded as best rising talents. The award for best TV comedian actor went to the cheery Sameh Hussien. Wael El Ebrashy was also awarded for his matchless bravery in discussing controversial issues, along with music veteran and director of the Egyptian Music Syndicate, Mounir El Wessimy.

 

Emad Kassem won his appreciation award for his timeless devotion and vast photographic proficiency. Appreciation Awards were presented to Harmony Press and M3Webz on behalf of DG to acknowledge their significance as partners of success. The entire guests of celebrity succumbed to Jannat, winner of the best youth female singer award as she captured the audience hearts with her unique angelic voice. A perfectionist in her craft and meticulous in her preparation for her roles, Yousra has a string of highly acclaimed performances and great films winning her the well justified award for best TV actress. Renowned actor Hisham Selim won an award for his role in the highly acclaimed ‘Harb El Gawasis’, whilst the gifted Mohamed Ragab grabbed his award for his role in ‘Adham El Sharkawy’. Well established director Sherif Arafa has won many international awards and was voted this years best director for his most recent movie ‘Welad El Am’ which was highly praised for both the directing skills and outstanding script. Director Ahmed Medhat was also among the winners in addition to a Group Performance Award which went out to the cast of ‘El Allamy’ Movie, while the movie’s director Ahmed Medhat was also awarded for his much-admired competence, while the distinctive Amr Samir Atef was voted best script writer for the renowned movie ‘Welad El Am’.

 

Famous young designer Mohamed Daghar was presented with an achievement award for his sophisticated panache, setting him a richly deserved status amid the well known fashion designers in the Middle East. The proficient Walid Saad was voted best composer for 2009 and awarded for his extraordinary talent, making him one of the most important composers of his generation. The gifted Abd El Aziz Abdel Rahman El Hamid performed moments after accepting his award for best rising male singer, while escalating Syrian star Miriam Attalla who won the same award in the female category awestruck the entire audience when she took centre stage to sing her song. The creditable mix of genre’s and outstanding uninterrupted music programs have made ‘Negoum FM’ a revitalizing alternative from the other radio stations cloned formula, winning them an award for best radio channel. The Best Radio Program award went to ‘El Barnameg Dah Betaa MobiNil’, while Ahmed Younis won Best Male Announcer, and Yara El Gendy won her award for best female announcer.

 

 

Amir Te’ema won best song writer and Tamim won the award for best music arranger. The famous Yasser El Hariri won this year’s category title of ‘Best DJ’. Towards the finale of the festival, Poussy Shalaby gathered the winners on stage for a collective photograph along with a bevy of stars from Egypt and the rest of the region, combining the biggest and most talented stars of 2009 - making it a rare treat for viewers at home to see.

 

Since 2005, this event has established a policy; to encourage newcomers who are here to stay. DG festival has developed talent diversity where persons are appreciated for their simplicity and originality. We believe in constant interaction with all fields, giving each the breathing space and room for inspiration. What is extremely important is the process of integrity and communication that this event brings in, which is authentic and continuous. The occasion offered media the opportunity to interrelate with winners, question them about their creative pursuits and understand their cinema sensibilities better.

 

DG always recognizes its partners of success; therefore they have awarded Mr. Ihab Victor the owner of Harmony press for the quality of the magazine printing and Mr. Andoni Khoury for the distinctive magazine websites and the hard work he exerts in making DG survey a success.

 

Corporate Awards:
DG Festival also awarded a number of companies according to the survey results, the best Bank Award went to HSBC Bank, Ms. Nehad El Meligy; Deputy Branch Manager received the award. Best Marketing offers went to Etisalat Misr, for its creative and competitive offers to the public, Mr. Khaled El Kholy, Marketing Chief Officer. Mobinil won the best Advertisement Campaign for 2009. Best Fast Food Chain went to Cook Door; and was received by Mr. Mohamed Ayman, Marketing Director. Nokia mobile phones won the best Mobile Phone award which was received by Mr. Phil Mckinnon, Chief Marketing Director. Best Shopping Mall went to the biggest and most famous Mall City Stars, Mr. Ilhamy El Kerdan, General Manager City Stars received the award. CoCa Cola won Best Soft Drink award, and was received by Ms. Rana Abady, Public Relations Manager. Best Sports Wear award went to Adidas, Ms. Miral Muard; Marketing Director at Adidas Egypt received the award. ART received the best Arabic Movie & Series Channels; the award was received by Ms. Poussy Shalaby. Show movies Channel, won the best English Movie Channel, and the award was received by Ms. Caroline Hovaghimian, Human Resource Manager.

 

Towards the finale of the festival, Poussy Shalaby gathered the winners on stage for a collective photograph along with a bevy of stars from Egypt and the rest of the region, combining the biggest and most talented stars of 2009 - making it a rare treat for viewers at home to see. Since 2005, this event has established a policy; to encourage newcomers who are here to stay. DG festival has developed talent diversity where persons are appreciated for their simplicity and originality. We believe in constant interaction with all fields, giving each the breathing space and room for inspiration. What is extremely important is the process of integrity and communication that this event brings in, which is authentic and continuous.