Cairo Film Festival Reignites Arab Cinema Through Increased Support and Prizes

by Kate Elfatah

The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) is once again dedicated to Arab cinema and announces that it will provide more funds and artistic representation for producers in its 45th edition from November 13th to 22nd. CIFF this year is not only presenting more Arab films, it’s also dramatically broadening the channels through which filmmakers can find attention and support.

As a powerful solidarity gesture, CIFF is introducing “Horizons of Arab Cinema Awards” where $25,000 in prize money will be distributed across five categories — Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress. This welcome news acknowledges the emerging global reach and craft of Arab filmmakers.

“We’re eager to provide enough space to accommodate every piece of filmmaking and creativity in the Arab World,” says CIFF President Hussein Fahmy. He stresses the festival’s focus on Arab film across all genres and in initiatives such as the Cairo Film Connection, which has supported dozens of projects over the years. Fahmy lauds the “good movies” and “big developments in cinema-related technologies” propelling the Arab cinema revival that is unfolding today.

CIFF Director Essam Zakaria describes the festival’s commitment to capturing “high geographical variety in Arab Cinema Production”. All Arab films in the festival this year, both in the International Competition and the International Critics Week Competition, are eligible for the Horizons of Arab Cinema Awards. This broad definition guarantees a “just opportunity of submission and voting” for every Arab filmmaker.

Such commitment to Arab cinema is further illustrated by the Cairo Film Connection (CFC), now in its 10th year. The CFC announced a plethora of 18 post-production and development projects from 10 Arab countries. It offers critical support, guidance, and networking to young and seasoned filmmakers in the Arab world.

With its greater dedication to Arab cinema, diverse programming, and the revolutionary new Horizons of Arab Cinema Awards, the 45th Cairo International Film Festival promises to be a landmark event. IEM will be there bringing you all the movies, panels, and parties.

Learn more about Cairo International Film Festival HERE.