The 46th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival wrapped up on Friday evening, 21 November, with a dazzling ceremony in the Egyptian capital. The event brought together leading stars and filmmakers from around the world, alongside prominent cultural, artistic, and media figures.
Among the distinguished attendees were Minister of Culture Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henno, CIFF President Hussein Fahmy, and the festival’s Artistic Director Mohamed Tarek. The red carpet also welcomed an array of Egyptian and Arab cinema icons including Nelly, Khaled El Nabawy, Mahmoud Hemeda, Laila Eloui, Elham Shahin, Khaled El Sawy, Ashraf Zaki, Khaled Selim, Mohamed Reyad, Salwa Mohamed Ali, Sabry Fawaz, Hana Shiha, Dalia Mostafa, Mohamed Radwan, Lekaa El Khamissi, Manal Salama, Ahmed Magdy, Rania Youssef, Mohamed Tharwat, Hanady Mehanna, Amr Abed, and acclaimed directors Magdy Ahmed Ali, Kamla Abou Zekry, Amjad Abu Alala, scriptwriter Abdel Rahim Kamal, and top producers including Mohamed El Adl, Safi El Din Mahmoud, and Hesham Suleiman, along with a large number of international guests.
The evening opened with the Egyptian national anthem, followed by a powerful tribute to Palestinian child Hind Rajab, whose photo and final recorded phone call with ambulance responders were broadcast. The moment served as a heartfelt reminder of the festival’s solidarity with civilian victims and the Palestinian cause.
Festival President Hussein Fahmy then took the stage, delivering an emotional speech: "The call you just heard may sound like a scene from a film, but sadly it is painfully real. It is the voice of six-year-old Hind Rajab from Gaza, who cried for help for three hours after witnessing her family being killed before her eyes. Cinema has the power to document truth and keep stories alive. Hind’s story remains with us, reminding the world that children like her are not numbers, but real human beings.”
Fahmy announced that the festival’s closing film is The Voice of Hind Rajab. He also highlighted the festival’s rich lineup of events — from packed competition screenings and restored classics to masterclasses, workshops, and the bustling film market. He extended heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Culture and multiple government bodies for their support, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Tourism and Antiquities, Youth and Sports, the Tourism Promotion Authority, Cairo Governorate, and the Cairo Opera House.
He also acknowledged CIFF’s partners and sponsors, including Cred (main partner), Fresh, Banque Misr, Spiro Spathis, Lexus, Experience Egypt, WATCH IT, EgyptAir, Al Arabia United, the Saudi Film Commission, VOX Cinemas, DMC, FP7, France 24, Monte Carlo International, Mohamed El Sagheer, Sofitel, Tazkarty, Cairo Governorate, and Salah Diab of Al Masry Al Youm.
Fahmy praised the festival’s dedicated team, including Artistic Director Mohamed Tarek, Cairo Industry Days Director Mohamed Said Abdel Rahim, Opening and Closing Ceremony Director Mohamed Hamdy and his team, ceremony writer Dr. Rehab Hany, Mostek CEO Mostafa Abu Deshish, Amer Wadieh, Hany Nasef, Variety, Cinetic Egypt’s Eng. Mohamed Essam, and musician Shasho (One Man Band), among many others.
He also congratulated Qatar on the launch of the new edition of the Doha Film Festival. He announced a new collaboration agreement between CIFF and the Qatar Media City Film Commission.
Host Jasmin Taha Zaki then took over, welcoming guests and noting that the festival showcased 153 films from 55 countries before moving into the awards segment.
Honorary Awards:
– Lifetime Achievement Golden Pyramid Award: Chinese director Guan Hu
– Lifetime Achievement Golden Pyramid Award: Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi
– Cinematographer Mahmoud Abdel Samie received the Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement, presented by Ahmed Mansour, CEO of Cred.
Award Winners
Documentary Films Jury: Julie Bergeron, Bassam Mortada, Ola Salama
– Souraya Mon Amour by Nicolas Khoury
International Critics’ Week:
Jury: Salma Abu Deif, Ely Dagher, Claire Gadille
– Special Mention: The Botanist by Jing Yi
– Fathy Farag Special Jury Prize: In My Parents’ House by Tim Elrich
– Shadi Abdel Salam Best Film Award: Habibi Hussein by Alex Bakri
Short Film Competition:
Jury: Pom Bunsermvicha, Tara Emad, Anas Sareen
– Special Jury Prize (3000 USD – Watch It): A Very Straight Neck by Neo Sora
– Best Arab Short (2000 USD – Watch It): Two Tetas by Lynn Al Safah
– Youssef Chahine Best Short Film (5000 USD – Watch It): Cairo Streets by Abdullah Al Tayea
FIPRESCI Award:
Jury: Ahmed Shawky, Laura Pertuy, Thierry Verhoeven
– The Things You Kill by Ali Reza Khatami
Best Arab Feature Film (10,000 USD – Watch It):
– Once Upon a Time in Gaza by Tarzan & Arab Nasser
– Special Mention: Felana by Zahraa Ghandour
NETPAC Award for Best Asian Feature:
– The Botanist by Jing Yi
Arab Horizons Competition:
Jury: Abdelsalam Moussa, Nadia Dresti, Karim Aitoune
– Best Acting (2000 USD – Watch It): Afaf Ben Mahmoud (Round 13)
– Best Screenplay (5000 USD – Watch It): Yasser Shafie (Complaint No. 713317)
– Salah Abu Seif Special Jury Prize (8000 USD – Watch It): ANTI-CINEMA by Ali Saeed
– Saad Eddin Wahba Best Arab Film (10,000 USD – Watch It): Dead Dog by Sara Francis
Youssef Sherif Rizkallah Audience Award (15,000 USD – Cred):
– One More Show by Mai Saad & Ahmed El Denf
International Competition Jury:
Nuri Bilge Ceylan (President), Basma, Bogdan Muresanu, Guan Hu, Nadine Khan, Simona Paggi, Leyla Bouzid
– Henry Barakat Best Artistic Contribution: Sand City
– Best Actress (Shared): Andrea Riseborough & Brenda Andrew Williams (Dragonfly)
– Best Actor: Majd Eid (Once Upon a Time in Gaza)
– Naguib Mahfouz Best Screenplay: The Things You Kill
– Bronze Pyramid (Special Jury Prize – 3000 USD): As We Breathe by Seamus Alton
– Silver Pyramid Best Director (5000 USD): Tarzan & Arab Nasser (Once Upon a Time in Gaza)
– Golden Pyramid Best Film (7000 USD): Dragonfly by Paul Andrew Williams
Host Jasmin Taha Zaki congratulated all the winners, expressing pride that the closing film, The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania, crowned a meaningful and deeply human edition of the festival.
About the Cairo International Film Festival
Founded in 1976, CIFF is one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in the Arab world and Africa, and one of the few accredited by FIAPF. Held annually under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, the festival is committed to artistic excellence, industry development, and fostering cross-cultural dialogue while amplifying Arab cinema on the global stage.
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