It was yesterday, November 3, 2024, that the press conference of the 45ᵉ edition of the Cairo International Festival (CIFF) was held. Under the chairmanship of actor Hussein Fahmy, this meeting made it possible to unveil the main lines of the program, as well as the list of films selected in the various sections of the festival, including the most prestigious section of the festival: the international competition.
Scheduled from November 13 to 22, 2024, this edition will highlight works from around the world, offering Egyptian spectators the opportunity to discover films rarely screened in local theaters. Hussein Fahmy recalled that the role of the CIFF is to encourage cultural diversity, by creating bridges between cultures and by making unprecedented works accessible to the Egyptian public, testifying to world cinematographic wealth.
The jury of the international competition, chaired by the Bosnian director and screenwriter Danis Tanović, brings together influential personalities from the film industry, with the Egyptian Ahmed Hafez (editor), the Italian Andrea Pallaoro (director), the Spanish Angela Molina (actress), the Thai Anuchakhakornong (director) French Sylvie Pialat (producer and screenwriter) and the Tunisian Aïcha Ben Ahmed (actress).
For Aïcha Ben Ahmed, being a member of this jury is a mark of recognition of his talent and his growing influence. Known for her elegance and her subtle game, she asserts herself as an ambassador for Tunisian culture internationally. His presence within this jury, After a first participation in 2019 in the jury of the Horizons of Arab Cinema competitionconfirms the place of this actress in the Arab and global cinematographic landscape.
Among the films in international competition of this 45ᵉ edition of the CIFF, 4 O’Clock Flowersfirst fictional feature by Tunisian Khadija Lemkecher, particularly attracts attention. With this film, Khadija Lemkecher, already noticed for his short films dealing with social themes, made his long format debut, exploring questions of immigration and youthful dreams. His selection testifies to the rise of Tunisian cinema on the international scene and allows the Egyptian public to discover this promising work of the Maghreb.
The list of films in competition in the international competition of this 45ᵉ edition of the CIFF:
- Ayse,, Directed by Nejmi Senjak (Türkiye | Fiction | 2024 | 76 min)
Synopsis: Ayse, 47, lives with his brother Ridvan, 38, with Down syndrome. When she receives a marriage proposal from a trucker who stops in the service station where she works, she finds herself in front of a choice between her destiny and her dreams.
- Blue Sun Palace,, Directed by Constance Tsang (United States | Fiction | 2024 | 116 min)
Synopsis: Thousands of kilometers from their country, Amy and Didi sail between romance, happiness and family responsibilities in a massage fair in New York. Their fraternal link, almost indestructible, is put to the test during the lunar New Year.
- DEAR MALOTI (World Première), directed by Shankha Das Gupta (Bangladesh | Fiction | 2024 | 106 min)
Synopsis: After the death of her husband in a fire, Maloti, a pregnant woman of Dacca, Bangladesh, finds herself taken in a bureaucratic labyrinth who calls into question her values, her faith, and jeopardizes the future of her unborn child.
- January 2directed by Szofia Szilagyi (Hungary | Fiction | 2024 | 86 min)
Synopsis: Klara leaves her husband with the help of her friend AG. They make seven car journeys together, taking the same round trip to each time, but each trip is unique.
- Maldororproduced by Fabrice du Welz (Belgium, France | Fiction | 2024 | 155 min)
Synopsis: When two young girls disappear, Paul Chartier, a fiery police officer, joins the mysterious “Maldoror” unity, created to monitor a dangerous sexual offender. After the failure of the operation, Paul embarked on a personal hunt.
- Maleproduced by Pedro Freire (Brazil | Fiction | 2024 | 101 min)
Synopsis: In 1997, Malu, an unemployed 50 -year -old actress lives with her conservative mother in a dilapidated house in Rio de Janeiro. She tries to reconnect with her adult daughter while remembering her glorious past.
- Meet The Barbariansdirected by Julie Delpy (France | Fiction | 2024 | 101 min)
Synopsis: A village in Brittany accepts Ukrainian refugees in exchange for subsidies, but it is ultimately Syrian migrants who arrive, triggering tensions. The Fayad family challenges stereotypes, leaving the question hovering: who are the real “barbarians”?
- Memoir of a snail (Premiere International), directed by Adam Elliot (Australia | Fiction | 2024 | 95 min)
Synopsis: In Australia in the 1970s, Gilbert and Grace’s destinies intertwine and separate, each living in a new family. The tests seem to overwhelm them until the arrival of an eccentric old lady, Pinky.
- 4 O’Clock Flowers (Premiere International), directed by Khadija Lemkecher (Tunisia | Fiction | 2024 | 103 min)
Synopsis: Djow, owner of a boxing room in a popular district of Tunis, is looking for a champion and discovers Yahya, a young talent. But Yahya dreams of a future elsewhere, considering illegal immigration. How will his destiny be played?
- Passing Dreamsdirected by Rashid Masharawi (Palestine, Sweden, France | Fiction | 2024 | 85 min) _ opening film.
- Synopsis: Sami, a 12 -year -old boy, follows a traveler pigeon through Palestine, convinced that he will find his original owner. On his way, he meets other Palestinians and shares their stories.
- Postmarks,, Directed by Natalia Nazarova (Russia | Fiction | 2024 | 103 min)
Synopsis: Yana, a post worker, awaits the return of her sea father. Although discreet, it is marked by a slight cerebral paralysis, which adds to its charm. The arrival of the Piotr sailor upsets his life.
- Snowdrop (Premiere International), directed by Yoshida Kota (Japan | Fiction | 2024 | 98 min)
Synopsis: Naoko Hanami lives with his mother to the unexpected return of his father, disappeared for years. While they try to recreate links, the future of the family is uncertain.
- Spring Came on Laughingproduced by Noha Adel (Egypt | Fiction | 2024 | 100 min)
Synopsis: During a tumultuous spring, four stories of love, anger and hidden secrets take place. But with the end of the flower season, an unexpected fall comes to close these stories.
- Moonde (World Premiere) Directed by Karim Kassem (Lebanon | Docu-Drama | 2024 | 120 min)
Synopsis: While the harvest season begins, an extreme drought plunges a village into a crisis. An annual play, entitled “Les Etantes”, is organized for the occasion.
- The New Year That Never Cameproduced by Bogdan Muresanu (Romania | Fiction | 2024 | 138 min)
Synopsis: On December 20, 1989, while the Ceausescu regime flicked, six people in Bucharest find themselves taken at the heart of the political storm without being aware of it.
- Victorydirected by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kaufman (Italy | Fiction | 2024 | 83 min)
Synopsis: Based on a true story with non -professional actors, the film follows Yasmin, a woman haunted by the desire to adopt a girl after the death of her father, despite a loving family and a busy life.
- When the Phone Rangproduced by Eva Radivojevic (Serbia, United States | Fiction | 2024 | 74 min)
Synopsis: Lana, 11, is plunged into an amonde of memories and questions following an overwhelming telephone call, erasing the history and identity of her country. What will she do with this loss?
Neïla Driss
