The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) revealed the first batch of films in its 42nd edition, to be held from December 2 to 10, 2020promising to the public a rich and diversified selection of the most recent and most expected films in the world of the year, most of which have won major awards in major film festivals in 2020.
Mohamed Hefzy, president of the festivalsaid: “In addition to the international first and the competition titles that will soon be announced, the programming team is proud to offer the public in Cairo, a collection of the most important and expected films of the year, many of which are on the way to becoming the pioneers of the reward season after having collected the praise of criticisms in festivals like Venice, Toronto and Berlin earlier in the year”.
The American film Nomadland He is at the top of the list of important titles that will have their first MENA in CIFF 2020. After winning two of the most prestigious prizes of the year, the Venice Golden Lion and the People’s Choice of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Directed by Chloé Zhao and with Frances McDormand, winner of an Oscar, in the main role, Nomadland is the dark story of the resilient rejects of a ruthless economy with lived authenticity that invades you with moving power and grace. The Cairo Film Festival will present him in the official off -competition section.
The disciplean Indian production which won the prize for the best scenario and the Fipresci Prize at the Venice Festival, is also in the official off -competition section. Directed by Chaitanya Tamhane and produced by Alfonso Cuarón, winner of an Oscar, the film revolves around a young Indian who devotes his life to realizing his dream of becoming a classic Indian singer and who faces difficult challenges that few people manage to resist.
Franco-German drama Ondine is also part of the official out -of -competition selection. This is the latest film by Christian Petzold, who had chaired the jury for the international Cairo Film International Film Festival during his 38th edition. The film participated in the official competition of the Berlin Film Festival last February, winning the prize for best actress for the Paula Beer star as well as the Fipresci Prize. Ondine works as a historian giving conferences on the urban development of Berlin. But when the man she loves leaves her, the ancient myth catches up with her. Ondine must kill the man who betrays her and return to the water.
Also from Berlin, the film Mogul Mowglian Anglo-American production led by Bassam Tariq and featuring Rice Ahmed (also co-series) and which had won the Fipresci Prize in the Panorama section of the Berlin Film Festival. The film follows the journey of a British Pakistani rapper at the dawn of his first world tour, but which is struck by a disease, which affects all its projects. The film will also be screened in the official off -competition section.
Another important film is Exile Produced by Germany, Belgium and Kosovo, and produced by Vissar Morena. Exile won the Heart of Sarajevo Prize for the best feature at the Sarajevo Film Festival. The film tells the story of a chemical engineer of foreign origin victim of intimidation and negligence on the part of his colleagues and his family, which plunges him into an identity crisis. Exile will be projected in the International Panorama section.
The British film Limboone of the most important official selections of the Cannes Film Festival, which was presented at first in Toronto, before winning the Youth Jury Prize at the San Sébastian Festival at the beginning of last month, will be part of the selection of this 42nd edition of the CIFF, in the International Competition section. Directed by Ben Sharrock and with the Egyptian actor Amir Al Masry in the main role, the film presents a different perspective on the problems of refugees in Europe.
Two years after his participation with his previous film Jumpman – The insensitive In 2018, director Ivan I. Tverdovskiy, returned to the Cairo Film International Film Festival with his latest feature film Conference also in international competition. The film, a Russian-Estonian-Royeme-Uni-Italie co-production, received a special mention from the Jury of the Venice Days.
Natasha, a good sister arrives in Moscow on the day of the 17th anniversary of the attack on the Doubrovka theater, which made at least 170 hostages and a number of Chechen terrorists who was never officially confirmed, to organize a commemoration evening. Armed with money and the blessing of her priest, apparently blindly supported by her sister Vera, she rents the place for an evening before going to visit her sister Galya.
One of the most important Arab films of 2020, also participating in international competition, is Gaza my lovea co -production between France, Germany, Portugal and Palestine, and produced by twins Tarzan Nasser and Arab Nasser. The film was presented at first at the Venice Film Festival 2020 before winning the NetPac Prize for the best Asian film at the Toronto International Film Festival. The story revolves around an old lonely man who falls in love with a seamstress and tries to admit his love to him when he discovers an old statue that will change his life.
The Mexican director Michel Franco, member of the jury of the international competition during the 41st edition of the CIFF, will participate this year with the dystopian thriller New Order – New Orderwinner of the Jury Grand Prix at the Venice Mostra. The film will be screened in an official out -of -competition selection. The story takes place during a marriage for the members of a wealthy family of the upper bourgeoisie, interrupted by the arrival of unexpected guests and the events that upset the country.
In the International Panorama section of the festival, Applesproduced by Greece, Poland and Slovenia, and directed by Christos Nikou, will have his first MENA after his beginnings as a film to open the Horizons competition of the Venice Festival. History revolves around a mysterious world pandemic which causes sudden amnesia in humans, and focuses on a character who finds himself registered in a recovery program designed to help non -claimed patients to build new identities.
Press release
