Cairo International Film Festival

Nour at Cairo International Film Festival 2019. Photo: Instagram.com
Cairo International Film Festival has announced the dates for its 44th edition, which will be held from November 13 to November 22, 2022, at the Cairo Opera House. Holding true to tradition, the award-winning films will be screened the day after the closing ceremony, November 23. Submissions for the event are set to open via the festival’s website on May 15 and close on August 15, 2022.
“Preparations for the festival have started already and we are hoping to achieve an edition worthy of the festival legacy,” stated actor and festival president Hussein Fahmi. Festival director Amir Ramses echoed Fahmi’s statement, saying, “We have already started to watch , invite and follow up on the expected important films of the year along with the programming team.”
In the 43rd edition of the festival, a total of 98 films varying from as many as 63 countries participated. This is inclusive of 27 world premieres, seven international premieres, 44 MENA premieres and 15 Arab and North African premieres. The diversity and creativity of the festival’s contributors is what holds the event at such high regard, even on an international level.
Previously, the festival has featured Egyptian actor Nelly and presented her the career achievement award for her contribution to art. Renowned Egyptian actor Karim Abel Aziz has also received recognition with the Faten Hamama award for his artistic contributions, while other honorary awards were presented to Cannes film festival director Thierry Frémaux, Indian composer AR Rahman, American producer Lawrence Binder and French producer and distributor Eric Lagesse.
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Last night saw the 2020  Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) kick off in true style with a plethora of glamorous A-list Arab celebrities walking the red carpet at the annual opening ceremony in Egypt.
Running from December 2 to December 10, the 42nd edition of the festival – which was pushed back from its original schedule in November due to the pandemic – is a special one. It is the first festival in the Arab world to commit to equality across the board, after undertaking a parity pledge to ensure an even presence of male and female directors at the festival.
Keeping in line with the 5050×2020 charter that was launched at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016, CIFF has committed to equal representation at every level; from members on the selection panel, to films selected as part of the showcase.
Mona Zaki accepts the Faten Hamama Award for Excellence. Photo: Instagram/ @cairofilms

Another highlight at this year’s festival is the eminent Faten Hamama Award for Excellence, which was granted to Egyptian actor Mona Zaki at the opening ceremony, honoring the actor for her outstanding career.
Check out our pick of the best dressed at the Cairo International Film Festival in the gallery above.
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