Ahram - Ramy Imam, director and son of renowned Egyptian star Adel Imam, received the Arab Art Leader Award at Joy Awards 2024 on behalf of his father. Imam confirmed on the sidelines of the Awards that the Egyptian star "has decided to dedicate all his time to the family."
During the ceremony that took place on Saturday, a short film about the milestones of Adel Imam's acting career was screened.
Then, the award was presented by Turki Al Alshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's general entertainment authority, to Imam's sons, director and producer Ramy Imam and actor Mohamed Imam.
Mohamed Imam thanked the Saudi Joy Awards for this unique recognition of his father. He then saluted the people of Palestine and expressed hope that they would gain freedom soon.
In his turn, Ramy Imam underlined the importance of family for artistic creativity and transmitting the values of the arts. He then gave some interviews on the sidelines of the Awards ceremony.
"The 'Leader' [ the epithet of Adel Imam] decided to dedicate himself completely to family life, enjoying it with us and his grandchildren. He is in very good health," Ramy Imam noted. The announcement comes within months of speculations about the star's possible retirement from acting.
Born in 1940, Adel Imam is arguably the most famous Egyptian film, television and theatre actor of his generation who has been widely admired across the Arab World.
His 60 decades-long career is marked by roles in more than 100 movies and dozens of plays and television series.
While capitalizing on his comedic style, Imam created several works that remain iconic in the Egyptian and Arab world consciousness. These include films such as Al Irhab Wa Al Kabab (Terrorism and the Kebab), Zahaymar (Alzheimer's), El Sefara fi El Omara (The Embassy in the Building), and Al Irhabi (The Terrorist), among others. His play Al Zaim (The Leader), denouncing authoritarianism and extremism, made him a cultural icon.
The grand ceremony for the 2024 Joy Awards took place on Saturday in Riyadh, featuring the most renowned names from the Arab world and the international scene.
Organized by Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority in cooperation with MBC Group, the Joy Awards is one of the biggest award ceremonies in the Middle East.
The awards were handed to nominated female and male celebrities across various genres and categories, covering film, television, sports, fashion, and social media.
