As noted in a previous post, Egypt will be the first in a new tradition to welcome a “Country of Honor” every year to the Cannes Film Festival.

A cinematic tribute to the North African country will be held tonight, May 18, and will feature a screening of 18 Jours (18 Days, or Tamantashar Yom), a feature film collaborative effort of by 10 Egyptian directors, 20 actors, six writers and a crew; a collective work on this year’s Egyptian revolution, which began on January 25th, and led to the eventual resignation of President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, on February 11th (exactly 18 days later, hence the title), changing the country’s course in history.

The filmmakers, actors and crew all worked under emergency conditions, entirely in a volunteer effort, and all profits made from the film will be donated to organizing political and public education missions in Egyptian regions.

18 Days screens tonight at 8PM at the Salle du Soixantième theater.

Watch the intense trailer below: