The Cairo Film Connection (CFC) has revealed its selection of 18 projects for its 10th edition, scheduled to run from November 17 to 20 as part of the 45th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF). Representing ten countries, the chosen projects span both post-production and development phases, showcasing the diversity and creativity of Arab cinema. The lineup features six projects from Egypt, two each from Tunisia, Iraq, and Lebanon, and one each from Kuwait, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, and Algeria.
The post-production selections include compelling works such as 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 development phase projects showcase innovative narratives, including 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 Exodus (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).
Rodrigo Brum, the newly appointed director of CFC, emphasized the significance of this milestone edition, stating: “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.”
Cairo Film Festival President Hussein Fahmy echoed these sentiments, stating, “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.”
Festival Director and critic Essam Zakaria highlighted the enduring impact of the CFC: “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 International Film Festival.”
Part of the Cairo Industry Days, the CFC serves as a hub for networking, workshops, and panels that highlight and support Arab talent. As the oldest and only annually running film festival in the Arab world, Africa, and the Middle East with international recognition, the Cairo International Film Festival continues its legacy with its 45th edition from November 13 to 22, celebrating the rich and dynamic landscape of Arab cinema.
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