The Return of the Cairo International Film Festival

The Cairo International Film Festival has taken many different directions in the course of its 45-year history, and one of the thrills of attending this venerable event is to discover where the gentle Nile currents are leading it. Last year they were torrential. The abrupt start of the Israeli-Hamas war and the shock waves of its horrors brought cultural events to a standstill and forced organizers to make the heart-wrenching decision to cancel the festival. It was a stern reminder of Cairo’s central role in the region and the predominance of politics over everything else.

Now, in the face of the war’s escalation, the festival is preparing to host its 45^th edition under the new leadership of festival director Essam Zakaria, a well-known film critic, and the continuing presidency of legendary Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy. In his remarks at the festival’s press conference, Fahmy drew attention to “a special tribute to Palestinian cinema, highlighting its rise, resilience, and contributions to the path toward self-determination.”  The choice for the opening night film fell on Passing Dreams by leading Palestinian documentary maker Rashid Masharawi. There will be a Palestinian competition section and a jury headed by Prof. Amr El-Leithy, alongside a Gaza Films Awards Jury led by film critic Ahmed Shawky. And undoubtedly much discussion and debate on the war.

But in the busy, traffic-clogged city, festival goers will find an oasis of relative peace and breathable air in the central area of Zamalek, where the festival will be screening films in the Opera House and adjacent venues from Nov. 13 to 22. Known for its exquisite hospitality, it is a casual crossroads where some of the most glamorous people in the world meet popular culture.

“At the heart of any festival are the films and the interactions with their creators,” noted festival director Essam Zakaria. “I am proud to say that we have assembled a remarkable selection of high-quality films, perhaps unprecedented in number, that I hope will resonate with and captivate audiences.”

Acclaimed Egyptian filmmaker Yousri Nasrallah, a regular at Cannes and Locarno among many other festivals, will be awarded the Golden Pyramid Honorary Award. His much-admired works include The Gate of the Sun and Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story.

Another major honoree is Bosnian writer-director-producer Danis Tanovic, whose dark 2001 comedy about the war in Bosnia No Man’s Land won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film and 41 other awards. Tanovic will be presented with one of the festival’s two Faten Hamama Excellence Awards.

Receiving the same prize for career excellence is Egyptian actor Ahmed Ezz, who first became popular in the films of Inas El-Degheidy. His later work included blockbusters by Sandra Nashaat and a big budget war film about the Arab-Israeli war of attrition directed by Sherif Arafa.

Tanovic has been chosen to head the International Competition Jury, which includes Spanish actress Angela Molina among its predominantly female members. Italian producer Enzo Porcelli leads the Arab Film Awards Jury and Irish director Grainne Humphreys the Critics’ Week Jury. Lamia Guiga, the artistic director of the Carthage Film Days in Tunis, heads the African Film Award Jury; French-Burkinabe director Claire Diao tops the Short Film Competition Jury; Australian NETPAC co-president Anne Démy-Geroe leads the Asian Film Award Jury; and Greek film programmer Dimitris Kerkinos oversees the Documentary Award Jury. There will also be a Fipresci Jury managed by Egyptian film critic Ahmed Ezzat Amer. So no shortage of prizes for films participating in this comeback year.

A major highlight of the festival since its inception six years ago, Cairo Industry Days will unfold Nov. 15 to 20 with a bustling carousel of masterclasses featuring Yousri Nasrallah, Danis Tanovic and Gaspar Noé, workshops, panel discussions centered around various aspects of professional filmmaking, with international experts on hand to coach new talents onto the world stage.  It will include a revitalized Cairo Film Market where regional filmmakers can interface with production and post-production companies from around the world.