The 45th edition of the Cairo Film International Film Festival (CIFF) begins in three days and will take place from November 13 to 22, 2024. This edition, which marks the return of the festival after a year of postponement due to the war in Gaza, promises to be rich in new features. Among the remarkable additions are the “Cairo Classics” section, dedicated to the great classics of Egyptian and international cinema, as well as an exceptional program of films from around the world, carefully selected for their diversity and quality. On this occasion, the director of the festival, Essam Zakaria, sheds light on the challenges and the strategic choices that have shaped this edition.
Given the unique challenges of the resumption of the Cairo International Film Festival after a year of postponement, what adaptations have you set up to materialize your vision and guarantee the success of this edition?
Directing the Cairo Film International Film Festival after its postponement presented unique challenges, but also valuable growth opportunities. My experience with Egyptian festivals taught me that success lies in careful management both of the overall vision and essential details. Although the presentation of remarkable films is at the heart of the festival, logistics behind the scenes – such as travel, accommodation and the rights of films – is just as crucial and requires a thoughtful budget.
One of the main adaptations we made was in our approach to media coverage. Instead of covering travel costs for a limited group of journalists, we asked them to take care of their flights, while the festival was responsible for their accommodation for the total duration of 10 days. This allowed us to invite a greater number of international and Arab journalists, thus establishing precious partnerships with major media like Variety,, Verdict film And Screen Dailythus expanding the global presence of the festival.
We have also refined our strategy to bring foreign experts. Although their prospects are important, we have made a deliberate effort to focus on local talents, which not only offer high quality expertise, but which are also aligned with our objectives of sustainability and community support.
Another adjustment was in our film rights strategy. By strengthening our programming team and inviting more diverse voices in the selection process, we have discovered rare pearls – high quality films often overlooked in favor of larger names.
I am proud of the diverse and impactful programming that we have developed, which resonates with a large audience. Finally, the priority given to collaboration within our team made it possible to guarantee that everyone was working effectively and consistently to reach the vision of the festival.
You mentioned that the festival program is attracting a diversified audience. What is your vision to connect the festival with the public?
This year, we took an exciting step by extending the festival beyond the traditional places of the opera and the center of Cairo. Cairo is a sprawling metropolis, and we wanted to make sure that the scope of the festival extends to every corner of the city. In addition to our emblematic places such as the Cairo Opera, the Zamalek cinema and the Ewart Hall of the American University, we collaborated with Vox Cinemas to offer projections in New Cairo and Sheikh Zayed, thus guaranteeing greater accessibility for audiences through the city.
Our programming in these new places is designed in a inclusive way, balancing the broad attraction with high quality films for which our festival is known. Public projections outside the opera are designed to engage a wider audience, while the large opera room continues to offer this red carpet’s glamorous experience. For a more experimental touch, the films screened in the small theater and the El Hanager cinema are intended for a more limited audience and a follower of art and test films.
For the future, we plan to extend the festival even more in other districts of Cairo and even beyond the city, continuously adapting to the returns of the public to shape the future editions of the festival.
This year, the Arab cinema program is filled with a remarkable selection of films. Was it difficult to secure high quality films in the face of competition from other major festivals in the region?
This year, the Cairo Film Festival has an exceptional selection of Arab films, probably the strongest we have ever had. Rather than seeing competition as a challenge, we are excited by the richness of Arab cinema at our disposal.
We have also made significant changes at our prices for Arab cinema, in order to make them more relevant and balanced. Previously, the prize for the best Arab film has included all the Arab films of the festival, in addition to the prices of The Horizons competition of Arabic cinema, This often caused confusion. This year, we have introduced new financial prices specifically for Arab feature filmsand the competition is now open to all Arab films, whether they are part of the international competition or the Horizons section of redesigned Arab cinema, which is now an artistic showcase rather than competition.
Moreover, We highlight Palestinian cinema and the Palestinian cause. From our opening film, Dreams/Passing Dreams of the Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi, we have introduced dedicated prices to Palestinian cinemaas well as projections and events that amplify Palestinian voices. Our goal is to ensure that the Palestinian cause remains at the heart of the festival.
What is the approach of the festival with regard to the inclusion of Egyptian films alongside international selections?
Although the Cairo International Film Festival is anchored in Egypt, our goal is resolutely turned towards world cinema. We are committed to supporting Egyptian filmmakers, but we believe that their work deserves a place in international scenes, like those of Venice or the Red Sea Festival, and not only in Cairo.
This year, we have introduced the short film panorama, a new program dedicated to Egyptian short films. Although these films are not in competition, they occupy an important space to highlight the emerging creative voices of Egypt. Given the limited number of short films in competition and the rare places available for them, festivals like ours play an essential role in giving these works the visibility they deserve. This approach not only supports Egyptian filmmakers, but also assures that their talent reaches a wider international audience.
What is the vision behind the impressive program of classic films this year, including many newly restored Egyptian classics?
This year’s classic films program has an exceptional selection of Egyptian cinema, with a particular accent on carefully restored timeless classics. At a time dominated by ephemeral digital images, there is an increasing desire to reconnect with the past, where each image could leave a lasting impression. In this spirit, our program aims to revive and preserve the rich cinematographic heritage of Egypt, ensuring that it resonates with the public today.
Egyptian cinema, formerly threatened with being forgotten, is now restored thanks to partnerships between the government and key cinematographic organizations. The importance of safeguarding this cultural heritage has never been so urgent, because we want to transmit these films to future generations.
This year, we are broadening the broadcasting of these restored classics by projecting them into places beyond the opera, thus offering the public the opportunity to discover these masterpieces in optimal quality on the big screen. In addition to the Egyptian jewels, we also present remastered international films, creating a unique celebration of local and world cinematographic history.
What is a focus on this year on co-productions and international collaborations essential for the future of cinema?
Coproductions have become a decisive element of the current world film industry, transforming the way in which films are made, shared and experienced. At the Cairo International Film Festival, we put co -productions in the foreground this year, recognizing their powerful potential to unite various voices and create films that resonate worldwide. By prioritizing co -productions, we seek to encourage films that fill cultural differences while strengthening the sustainability of industry as a whole.
The festival also highlights the growing role of Egypt as a destination of choice for international cinematographic productions. The Egyptian film commission facilitates access to foreign filmmakers, making Egypt more attractive for filming. As part of our commitment to promoting this international collaboration, we welcome round tables and networking sessions where industry professionals from around the world can exchange ideas, explore co -production opportunities and weave links that will shape the future of cinema.
