 is just a few days away, beginning November 13th){kind=link}
The 44th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) is just a few days away, beginning November 13th and running through the 22nd. CIFF is one of the oldest-standing film festivals in the Arab world and Africa, and it seeks to bring diverse, high-quality and impactful stories to its audiences.
This year’s edition will open with Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film “The Fabelmans,” a sure way to start strong. This will be the film’s Middle East & North Africa (MENA) premiere after having its world premiere at TIFF earlier this fall.
Under the leadership of Festival President Hussein Fahmi and Festival Director Amir Ramses, this year’s CIFF focuses on cinema as a bridge between cultures. In his President’s Note, Fahmi remarks that where war and politics divide, art heals the wounds created by conflict. Acknowledging the urgency of environmental issues as well, the festival has taken steps to be more eco-friendly and encourages participants to do the same.
The official poster of the film festival is quite stunning and reflects the theme of art as a healing bridge between us all, a light against the darkness. Almost everything is a mirror image in the poster. Sand meets sky (meets sand again) in swirling hues of purple, pink and orange that mark the sunrise. A pyramid lies in the distance. Against this gorgeous backdrop a girl looks upward while, from above, a boy looks back. Bathed in light, they each stand within a large gold number four (also mirrored), signifying the 44th edition of the festival.
With over fifty countries participating in this year’s edition, CIFF is screening 97 films. There are five competitive award categories with juries, including International Competition, Best Arab Film Award, Horizons of Arab Cinema Competition, International Critics’ Week Competition, and Short Film Competition.
Non-competitive screening categories include Official Selection—Out of Competition, Special Screenings, International Panorama, Midnight Screenings, and Cairo Classics. One highly-anticipated film selected as part of Official Selection—Out of Competition is the inspirational “The Swimmers” from Sally El Hosaini, which premiered at TIFF this year. Based on a true story, the film follows two sisters, both competitive swimmers, from war-torn Syria to the Rio Olympics. “The Swimmers” has received much attention for its deeply affecting story and will have its MENA premiere at CIFF.
Fourteen films have been selected for International Competition, among them a Canadian film and an Egyptian film. “Something You Said Last Night” from Canadian-Italian filmmaker Luis de Filippis premiered at TIFF this fall and follows a trans woman’s journey of self-discovery during a family vacation. Egyptian filmmaker Ahmad Abdalla’s film, “19 B,” is about an old guard who lives in a dilapidated villa and watches over an abandoned house, but soon finds his position threatened by a young park attendant. This will be the world premiere of “19 B.”
CIFF will also honour Egyptian star Lebleba and Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr with the Golden Pyramid Award for lifetime achievement, and Egyptian filmmaker Kamla Abouzekri with the Faten Hamama Award of Excellence. Tarr will also be running a mentoring workshop and masterclass at the festival as part of the Cairo Industry Days, which connects professional and emerging filmmakers.
The festival has ensured a diverse selection of films across formats and genres, local and international regions, new voices and seasoned professionals. With its exciting lineup and commitment to celebrating various types of cinema, the 44th Cairo International Film Festival promises to be a special edition.
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