Terry Gilliam receives Faten Hamama Excellence Award from CIFF

CAIRO - 21 November: The visionary and Legendary director, screenwriter, actor and animator, Terry Gilliam received the Faten Hamama Excellence Award from Cairo International Film Festival head Mohamed Hefzy at the festival opening ceremony that took place on November 20.

Gilliam expressed his happiness with the award revealing that when he first knew about the award he felt it is is still too early because he feels himself young but when he looked at the mirror he discovered that he grew old.

Gilliam said that Cairo is a city full of energy and that filmmaking is a magical thing despite the fact that it is very tiring and requires much effort.


Film industry heavyweights made it down to the red carpet at Cairo International Film Festival which kicked off on November 20.

Among the celebrities who attended the festival Mona Zaki, Ahmed Helmy, Ahmed Dawoud, Yousra, Khaled Selim, Laila Elwi, Bushra, Hend Sabry, Ola Roushdy, Hussein Fahmy, Nour, Shereen Reda, Lekaa el Khamesi, Rogena, Nadia el Gendy, Menna Shalaby, Sherif Arafa,among others.

Famed Egyptian stars Khaled el Sawy, Dina el Sherbiny and Ahmed Dawoud hosted the opening ceremony of the 41st edition of Cairo International Film Festival.


The 41st edition of Cairo International Film Festival will last till November 29. This edition is expected to hold a lot of surprises executed by its creative filmmaker Mohamed Hefzy and its executive director Omar Kassem.

This edition honoured renowned Egyptian filmmakers Sherif Arafa and Menna Shalaby with Faten Hamama Excellence Award.


“The Irishman” was the festival opening movie.
Cairo International Film Festival becomes the first Arab festival and second African to sign the Gender Parity Pledge 5050×2020, joining this commitment launched during Cannes Film Festival in 2018.


The festival is committed to promote gender equality and transparency, during its 42nd edition in November 2020.

Egyptian star Sherine Reda is a jury member in Best Arab Film Award, famed Egyptian actress Hanan Motawie is a jury member in Cinema of Tomorrow jury and Egyptian Hearthrob actress Hana Shiha is a jury member in Horizons of Arab Cinema Competition.

The 41st edition of Cairo International Film Festival will be dedicated to the festival artistic director the late great film critic Youssef Sherif Rizakallah.