The 44th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) ended a week ago, a beautiful edition, which once again demonstrates that this festival deserves to be classified in category A by the International Federation of Film Producers (FIAPF), therefore among the 14 largest film festivals in the world (it is the only Festival in the whole region to be included in this classification).
However, its current president, actor Hussein Fahmy, aims to include him among the 4 biggest film festivals in the world alongside Cannes, Berlin and Venice festivals. And besides why not?
It is not impossible or even very difficult for a team that seriously works to advance their festival and attract an increasingly numerous audience.
Overall, this 44th edition was well organized. There was a beautiful selection of films, including a large number as a world or regional premiere. The projections started on time. The rooms were mostly full and the films in competition were followed by very interesting debates. All members of the organizing team, whether permanent, seasonal workers, or even volunteers, were very kind and helpful. They were there to help guests and spectators who came in large numbers to participate in this big festival.
Of course, there were a few details that must be improved, for example the decor of the stage of the Great Hall of the Opera, which had been set up for the two opening and fence ceremonies and which had remained in place throughout the duration of the festival, had been a little annoying during the projections. Indeed, part of the scene coating was brilliant and therefore reflected the light of the screen. Or the too strong air conditioning of the rooms that pushed to provide a jacket or a coat so as not to risk freezing in his chair. And of course, the problem of spectators who use and abuse their mobile phones and therefore disturb their neighbors. Without forgetting the two Tunisian feature films, Pardon Island from Ridha Behi and I will come back there From Yassine Redissi, whose first was scheduled the same day and at the same time, which forced us, Tunisians, to have to choose between the two. For this last point, according to the management of the festival, there were constraints of stay dates of certain members of the teams of the two films which forced them to this, but the two films could still have been able to be screened at different times.
In an interview published this week in an Egyptian newspaper, the film critic Andrew Mohsen, member of the artistic management of the festival said that, as every year, at the end of the edition, there were meetings to take stock of the publishing, know the weak points, defects or breaches and try to remedy it in the future. This is one of the secrets of the success of this festival: questioning, which is possible in continuity and capitalization on experience.
Indeed, the CIFF has a team PERMED Of 28 people, some of whom have been there for more than 20 years, which allows you to work throughout the year and prepare well for editions. Thanks to the experience acquired over the years, these people can move forward, correct defects or errors and permanently improve. And that, even in the event of a change of president. Still according to Andrew Mohsen last year, when the departure of Mohamed Hefzy, the former president of the CIFF, was announced and before the new president was appointed, the festival team had continued to work and prepare the upcoming publishing. Without interruption. For example, the artistic team had contacted cinema professionals, various producers, distributors and programmers, to keep up to date with the new films of the year and had started negotiations to have some in the CIFF. According to him, these negotiations were able to take place because their vis-à-vis total confidence in this festival and in its seriousness. Of course, no final agreement had been concluded pending the appointment of the new president, but all the preliminary work had been done so as not to waste time.
During an interview he had with the journalists invited to the CIFF, Hussein Fahmy also emphasized this point. He said that the team is very important, and even more important than the president himself and that it is she who actually does all the work. Indeed, at the start of his appointment, there were a lot of meetings to determine the goals to be achieved, set up the procedures, share the spots, and then everything went well. He said that he did not spend ten or twelve hours a day at the office, but went there about two hours to inform, solve the problems that arise and give his guidelines. If he can afford this, it’s good because everyone works and very well.
In addition to this permanent team, which acquires a solid experience year after year, each new president keeps what those who were there before him and tries to add and improve. This is how for this 44th Edition, Hussein Fahmy has kept all the news introduced by his predecessor Mohamed Hefzy. For example, the Cairo Industry Days created in 2018 have been renewed, and has become a very important event for all cinema professionals; The Food Court, which has become a meeting place for the public and even a kind of cine-club allowing interesting discussions about films; the convention with universities to attract students; The Théâtre de la Fontaine, an outdoor area built in 2020 to cope with the Pandemic of COVID19, which allows you to accommodate during the day meetings, Masters Class and Conferences and in the evening, projections of films. To all this, this year Hussein Fahmy added a greater presence in foreign festivals like Cannes and Venice. For example, In May 2022, the CIFF was present in Cannes, with a large urban display campaign and the organization of some eventsand for 2023, it is planned to see an Egypt stand back in the international village. A collaboration is also underway with the Red Sea International Film Festival (The Red Sea International Film Festival), in particular for the restoration of old Egyptian films, which will be scheduled at the two festivals. In addition, the CIFF has restored two Egyptian films this year The choice de Youssef Chahine (1971) and Journal of a campaign substitute From Tawfik Saleh (1969), programmed in the Cairo Classics section. The experience was such a great success with the public that it was decided to renew it. Without forgetting that preserving the cinematographic heritage of Egypt is also part of the festival duties and objectives.
What is also remarkable is to see the agreement or help between the two presidents. Throughout the year, we noted the presence of Mohamed Hefzy at the important moments of the festival, especially during the press conference of October 27 to present the program of the 44th edition. In addition, a few hours before the start of the opening ceremony, Mohamed Hefzy published on his Facebook account, encouragement to the new President Hussein Fahmy and his team. And during this same opening ceremony, it was Hussein Fahmy who in turn paid tribute to his predecessor, present in the room.
All this might seem obvious, but yet not. In Tunisia, the oldest African film festival and the Arab world, the Carthage Cinematographic Days (JCC), created in 1966, has not yet a permanent team. This festival did not even have offices before March 2018. This festival is organized each year more or less from March, when the new president is appointed in principle for a single year, sometimes two. And of course, each time we ask this new president to form a team and prepare for his edition for the following October. How can we demand that a evening festival organized in 7/8 months, especially with a new team each time?
Neïla Driss
