The 45th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) was officially launched this morning at a press conference imbued with emotion, held in the heart of the Egyptian capital.
It is under the sign of resilience and tribute that Hussein Fahmy, president of the festival, has open this meeting, Despite the recent death of his brotherthe famous Egyptian actor Mostafa Fahmy, which occurred last week.
Dressed in black and displaying great fatigue, Hussein Fahmy nevertheless affirmed his desire to fully fulfill his responsibilities, thus honoring his role in the launch of this major cinematographic event.
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The press conference brought together important figures from Arabic cinema. Among the personalities present, we have noticed the Egyptian actors Mahmoud Hemeda and Lebleba, as well as the producers Mohamed El Adl and Gaby Khoury, who testified to their support for the event. The filmmakers Yousry Nasrallah, a visionary Egyptian director, and Rachid Masharawi, a Palestinian director, were also present. Two large Tunisian actresses, Aïcha Ben Ahmed and Dorra Zarrouk, were among the guests of the distinguished. Aïcha Ben Ahmed, rising star of Tunisian and international cinema, draws attention to his exceptional talent and natural charisma. Her dazzling career made her a real ambassador for Tunisian culture abroad, and her participation in the jury of the international competition this year testifies to the recognition of her talent. Dorra Zarrouk, known for her elegance, was present due to the selection of her first film as a director, The life that remainsat the Cairo Festival.
Hussein Fahmy speech: tribute and commitment
Speaking, Hussein Fahmy thanked the guests for their presence and recalled that the 2023 edition had been canceled in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in response to the tragic events that have continued to mark the region for more than a year. He said it was imperative to maintain the festival this year, highlighting the strict regulations of the International Federation of Film Producers (FIAPF), which only authorizes one consecutive cancellation.
He recalled that the CIFF’s mission is to introduce films rarely distributed in Egypt, from all over the world, especially from Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Hussein Fahmy also announced the personalities who will be honored as well as some new features for this edition, such as the Art 74 initiative, the “Made in Egypt” section, the “Cairo Classics” section, the “Palestinian cinema” section, and the guest country of this edition: China.
Tributes: three figures of Arab and international cinema
As announced in the previous edition, the CIFF will pay tribute this year to three great cinema personalities, celebrating their remarkable contribution:
– Yousry Nasrallah : This renowned Egyptian filmmaker, former assistant to Youssef Chahine, will receive the Gold Pyramid Price For his entire career. His career, rich in prestigious collaborations and committed films, constitutes a pillar of the cinema of Egyptian author. Of Summer flights (1988) to After the battle (2012), Nasrallah imposed its unique style, combining social and daring aesthetic depth. He is also the first Egyptian director to have presided over a jury at the Cannes Film Festival.
– Ahmed Ezz : Versatile and charismatic actor, he will receive the Prix Faten Hamama for Excellence. Of its beginnings in Diary of a teenager (2001) has its successes in THE Rizk son And The cellAhmed Ezz has established itself as one of the most prominent actors in Egypt, embodying various roles with great dramatic intensity.
– Danis Tanović : This Bosnian director, Oscar winner for the best foreign film for No man’s land (2001), is in the spotlight this year as president of the jury of the international competition. His commitment to document human realities through his cinema makes him a powerful voice on the international scene.
New: the Art 74 initiative
One of the major innovations of this year is the launch of the initiative Art 74a platform dedicated to the meeting between plastic arts and cinema. This unprecedented initiative will offer a series of exhibitions aimed at promoting young artists, combining visual works in the power of cinema.
An unprecedented selection of films restored in the “Cairo Classics” section
The festival also highlights the preservation of the cinematographic heritage with the screening of several classic restored films. Masterpieces of Egyptian cinema as Cairo 30 by Salah Abou Seif (1966) and Sin by Henry Barakat (1965) will be in the spotlight. An interesting novelty this year is Hussein Fahmy’s demand to project an unrelated sequence for each film, in order to make the public aware of the importance of cinematographic catering.
Festival -goers will also be able to rediscover international classics such as Cleopatra by Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1962) and Baghdad thief by Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell and Tim Whelan (1940).
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Hussein Fahmy also expressed his wish to program the film The ten commandments (1956), produced by Cecil B. Demille and shot in Egypt, but that could not materialize. He also announced that in tribute to foreign films shot in Egypt, a special section ” Made in Egypt “Will be devoted to past and recent productions that have used the country as a decor.
The poster of the 45th Edition: a vision of time and cinema
This year, the CIFF poster is a completely special work, symbolic of the message that the festival wishes to transmit. Hussein Fahmy, proud of this creation, revealed that he had himself participated in the design of this poster. She represents a young girl, figure of the spectators, contemplating a moving train, who embodies the passage of time. The train, symbol of a cinema deeply rooted in history, is inexorably advanced, marking importance of importance, just like Egyptian cinema, which crosses eras without ever interrupting.
For Hussein Fahmy, this metaphor is particularly expensive to his heart, evoking his own television program, Zaman (Time), which explored the notion of passing time and the evolution of things. By designing this poster, Hussein Fahmy wanted this edition of CIFF to also be a tribute to this temporality that characterizes cinema. “” The time of cinema and the time of life“, He added, recalling that the festival is itself a celebration of this perpetual movement, which echoes the transformation of society.
The opening film: Passenger dreams by Rashid Masharawi
The CIFF chose to kick off this 45th edition with Passenger dreamsa film by the Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi, thus offering a poignant showcase to the Palestinian cause. This feature film, which plunges us into the daily life of Sami, a young Palestinian boy, takes us on a journey revealing the absurdity of daily reality under occupation. Hussein Fahmy expressed his pride in presenting this work, claiming that it represents a gesture of solidarity and strong commitment to the Palestinian people.
Hussein Fahmy also announced that the film Ground Zero, bringing together 22 short films by Gazaouis directorswill be screened under the initiative of Rashid Masharawi.
This year, the doors of the projection room will be closed during the ceremony and the screening of the opening film, so that all the guests can attend this first insisted Hussein Fahmy. In addition, he recalled that, for opening ceremonies, fence and other projections of gala, an evening outfit is compulsory for everyone, guests and professionals. Only people respecting the Dress Code will be admitted to the room.
The jury of international competition: Aïcha Ben Ahmed in the spotlight
This year, the composition of the juries was carefully designed to ensure continuity with the choices provided for during the previous edition. The jury of the international competition will be chaired by Danis Tanović and will understand international talents such as Andrea Pallaoro, Italian director, Angela Molina, Spanish actress and Sylvie Pialat, French producer and our Aicha Ben Ahmed National. Recognized for its elegance and undeniable talent, it is one of the rising stars of Arab cinema, and its role as a juror in a renowned festival reinforces its position on the international cinematic scene. This is the second time that Aïcha Ben Ahmed has been chosen as a member of a jury at CIFF, The first time, in 2019, she had been a member of the jury for the Horizons of Arab cinema competition.
– The jury of the Horizons of Arab cinema competition will host experts such as inzo Porcelli, Italian producer, and Tamer Karawan, Egyptian composer, accompanied by Hind Al Fahhad, Saudi director.
– In the section of international criticism, Nesrine Erradi, Moroccan actress, and Khaled El Hagar, Egyptian director, will join Gráinne Humphreys, director of the Dublin Festival.
– The Fipresci jury will be made up of eminent criticisms, including Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi (Italy), Cheyenne Riaz (Germany), and Ahmed Ezzat Amer (Egypt).
This year, the festival will also have a jury for the best African feature film, led by Lamia Belkaïd Djegha (artistic director of the JCC), while Gaby Khoury will chair the special jury of Palestinian films, thus strengthening support for Palestinian culture and cinema.
Announcement of selected films and the Cairo Industry Days program:
Hussein Fahmy gave the floor to his collaborators to announce the various selections of all sections of the festival, as well as the Cairo Industry Days program.
They announced that they have joined new cinemas participating in the festival to encourage the inhabitants of Cairo, especially those living far from the projection places, to come and discover the films. They also unveiled the complete statistics of films participating in this 45th edition:
– Total films participating in this edition: 194 films (but this figure could reach 200 before the start of the festival).
– Number of participating countries: 72 countries.
– Gala projections with red carpet: 16 films.
– Number of world leadership: 37 films.
– Number of international firsts: 8 films.
-Number of first for the Middle East and Africa: 119 films.
They later announced the full films program, as well as the various selections of all competitive and non -competitive sections. As for the Cairo Industry Days, which constitute another important pillar of the festival, they will offer many panels, workshops and networking opportunities for professionals in the sector. Dedicated articles will soon unveil the details of this programming, which promises to stimulate the regional and international film industry.
The Cairo Film International Film Festival, a real window on world cinema, is thus ready to welcome its guests, paying tribute to traditions and talents while cultivating an open and committed cultural dialogue.
Neïla Driss
