05/11/2024 - After cancelling its 2023 edition owing to the Israel–Hamas war, the oldest and most prestigious film gathering for Africa, the Middle East and the Arab world returns at full speed

The Cairo International Film Festival returns this year after its 2023 edition ended up being cancelled owing to Israel's war on Palestine – and for this 45th edition, which will unfold from 13-22 November, the festival shows its support of Palestine with a special tribute to Palestinian cinema, highlighting its rise, resilience, and contributions to the path towards self-determination.

The full programme was announced during the pre-event press conference on Sunday 3 November and revealed a traditionally strong European presence. 

In the International Competition, eight of the selected films are European productions or co-productions. The solo European entries are the Hungarian film January 2 [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Zsófia Szilágyi, the French production Meet the Barbarians [+see also:
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film profile] by Julie Delpy, the Romanian flick The New Year That Never Came [+see also:
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interview: Bogdan Mureşanu
film profile] by Bogdan Mureșanu, and the Italian feature Vittoria [+see also:
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interview: Alessandro Cassigoli and Ca…
film profile] by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman. The co-productions are the collaboration between Belgium and France Maldoror [+see also:
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interview: Fabrice Du Welz
film profile] by Fabrice du Welz, the Serbian-US feature When the Phone Rang [+see also:
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interview: Iva Radivojević
film profile] by Iva Radivojević, and the opening film Passing Dreams [+see also:
interview: Rashid Masharawi
film profile] by Rashid Masharawi, a joint work by professionals from Palestine, Sweden and France.

The parallel competition sections also include European productions and co-productions. Three French co-productions will be presented within the Horizons of Arab Cinema Competition thus underscoring France’s continued involvement in regional narratives: Diaries from Lebanon [+see also:
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interview: Myriam El Hajj
film profile] by Lebanese filmmaker Myriam El Hajj, also co-produced by Qatar and Saudi Arabia; the collaboration with Palestine Holidays in Palestine by Maxime Lindon, and The Bridge [+see also:
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film profile] by the Tunisian filmmaker living in France Walid Mattar.

In the Critics’ Week Competition, European-conceived and financed titles also feature in the lineup: Eva Nathena’s The Murderess from Greece, Wild Diamond [+see also:
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interview: Agathe Riedinger
film profile] by Agathe Riedinger from France, plus the multi-national productions Brief History of a Family [+see also:
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film profile] by Chinese filmmaker Lin Jianjie, additionally supported by production companies from France, Denmark, and Qatar, and September Says [+see also:
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interview: Ariane Labed
film profile] by Ariane Labed, a co-production between Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Germany. 

"Recognising the festival’s role in preserving cinematic heritage, we’ve also dedicated a new look at Egyptian and international film classics, presenting restored works using the latest technologies to offer a deeper understanding of cinema history”, said festival president Hussein Fahmy. The new Artistic Director, Essam Zakaria, also confirmed that “this year’s edition will feature an unprecedented emphasis on classics, with a dedicated programme and specialised screening venues.”

While the Golden Pyramid Honorary Award will be presented to Egyptian director Yousry Nasrallah, who began his career in 1982 and has made significant contributions to auteur cinema, including acclaimed films such as Summer Thefts, The Gate of Sun, and After the Battle [+see also:
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film profile], the Faten Hamama Excellence Award will honour both Danis Tanović, the Bosnian filmmaker known for his Oscar-winning film No Man’s Land [+see also:
trailer
film profile], who is also this year’s Jury President, and Ahmed Ezz, the Egyptian actor recognised for his performances in various blockbuster films such as The Hostage and the Sons of Rizk trilogy.

Furthermore, Russian cinema is also welcome in Cairo, represented by two brand-new titles: Natalia Nazarova’s Postmarks in the International Competition, and Nikolai Larionov’s Endless Winter screening in the International Panorama sidebar.