Cairo  - Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni and his Spanish counterpart Cesar Antonio Molina opened the 32nd Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) late Tuesday.

Fireworks welcomed an array of international stars as they walked this year's shiny red carpet. British actress-producer Julia Ormond, Elvis Presley's ex-wife Priscilla Presley, Oscar winning star Goldie Hawn and her partner Golden Globe nominee Kurt Russell were joined by renowned actor Omar Sharif, the honorary president of the festival.

Egyptian actress Youssra and actors Mustafa Fahmy and Khaled Abul Naga introduced foreign stars on stage as a way of honouring them, while Clueless star Alicia Silverstone introduced Egyptian and Arab stars.

About 150 films are participating in the different sections of the festival. Spain is the guest of honour, with Chus Gutierrez's Return to Hansala screened at the opening ceremony. The Viva Spain section will feature 22 films produced between 2008 and 2006.

The festival, which wraps up on November 28, will also be dedicating special sections to African cinema, Islam in international cinema and films on human rights.

Earlier on Tuesday the Spanish Minister of Culture expressed his country's support for Hosni as Egypt's candidate for the post of Secretary General of UNESCO.

"We are convinced he is the best. Such conviction does not decrease our respect for other candidates, but we announce our full support for Hosni," Molina told a press briefing on Tuesday. (dpa)