TORONTO — Directors Atom Egoyan and Alex Gibney and actress Sarah Polley are to headline a Tuesday press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival to help free Canadian director John Greyson and his traveling partner, Tarek Loubani, from a Cairo prison.
Canadian author Michael Ondaatje, Bell Lightbox artistic director Noah Cowan and Cecilia Greyson, (Greyson’s sister) hope to draw media attention back to the duo.
Greyson and Loubani have been held without formal charges since August 16, despite an international campaign to secure their release.
A court date last week in Cairo to possibly free the duo failed to go forward because the prosecutor didn’t show up.
Greyson and Loubani, a medical doctor and assistant professor, were traveling to the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza, where Loubani teaches emergency medicine to the hospital staff and where Greyson was invited to film.
They were arrested after asking for directions back to their hotel at a police station, according to campaigners.
Supporters now fear Greyson and Loubani could face prolonged imprisonment, prompting Tuesday’s press conference at Bell Lightbox.
Festival attendees have begun wearing badges that urge the release of Greyson and Loubani.
And a petition calling for their release has secured over 100,000 signatures, while Egoyan and fellow directors Gus Van Sant and Errol Morris have publicly added their voices to the campaign.
