Cairo Film Connection reveals line up of 18 projects from 10 countries

Cairo Film Connection (CFC) has announced the selected projects for its 10th edition, which will take place from November 17 to 20 during the 45th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF). The lineup features 18 projects from ten countries, spanning both post-production and development stages. The selected works include six from Egypt, two each from Tunisia, Iraq, and Lebanon, and one each from Kuwait, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, and Algeria.

Selected films in post-production phase include: Maythem Ridha’s documentary “40 Years of Silence” (Iraq), Hicham Lasri’s feature “Thank You Satan” (Morocco), Nada Hafaiedh’s documentary “Barcha” (Tunisia), Ager Oueslati’s documentary “You Don’t Die Two Times” (Algeria), and two Egyptian films: Mohamed Siam’s feature “My Father’s Scent “and Muhammad Mustapha’s documentary “Big Boys Don’t Cry”.

The list of selected projects in the development phase includes Maysaa Almumin’s feature “All the Colors Blue” (Kuwait), Ibrahim Omar’s documentary “Dry Sky” (Sudan), Houssem Sansa’s feature “Of Debt and Money” (Tunisia), Hany Yassa’s documentary “Ninety – Sixty – Thirty” (Egypt), Yasir Kareem’s feature “Ayin Hara” (Iraq), Karim Kassem’s documentary “Before Now, Later” (Lebanon), Rasha Shahin’s feature “Exdous” (Egypt), Khaled Al Swidan’s documentary “Amal” (Jordan), Fady Atallah’s feature “Kohl and Cardamom” (Egypt), Eliane Raheb’s documentary “The North Wind” (Lebanon), Hana Alomair’s feature “Dancing on Fire” (Saudi Arabia), and Asmaa Gamal’s documentary “My Dream to Fly” (Egypt).

The newly appointed director of Cairo Film Connection, Rodrigo Brum, said: “To celebrate a decade of supporting Arab filmmakers, we’ve chosen to include one additional project per category in this year’s edition. This expansion not only reflects the high quality of the applications but also the diversity of ideas and creative approaches that capture the current dynamics of Arab cinema, both within the region and the diaspora. Together with our partners and sponsors, we look forward to an exceptional and celebratory edition.”

In this context, Cairo Film Festival President Hussein Fahmy said, “Cairo Film Connection is highly regarded as a platform for Egyptian and Arab filmmakers to support and push forward their films. I was very pleased with the discussions that took place during the last festival session, and I am delighted by the success and impact the forum achieves each year. This, in turn, benefits the film industry in Arab countries through strong and influential projects backed by the festival.”

Cairo’s new festival director, the film critic Essam Zakaria, added, “Cairo Film Connection remains a vital space for supporting the film industry and its filmmakers. We are proud that the CFC has reached its tenth edition, and over the years, it has provided substantial support to Arab filmmakers, helping them develop and release their films for participation in international forums and festivals. This was evident with several projects from past sessions, such as ‘Inshallah a Boy’ and ‘Four Daughters,’ which went on to win three awards at the Cannes Film Festival.”

CFC is part of Cairo Industry Days and serves as a platform for discussions, networking, workshops, and panels aimed at highlighting and supporting Arab talent.

Cairo International Film Festival is the oldest and most recognized film festival in the Arab world, Africa, and the Middle East. Its 45th edition will take place from November 13 to 22.