The 46th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF 2025) opened on Wednesday evening with a spectacular ceremony at the Cairo Opera House, welcoming an elite gathering of global stars, filmmakers, and cultural icons.
The red carpet shimmered with Egyptian and international celebrities, including festival president Hussein Fahmy, Minister of Culture Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henno, Artistic Director Mohamed Tarek, legendary director Mohamed Abdel Aziz, and a constellation of stars such as Yousra, Lobloba, Mahmoud Hemida, Khaled El Nabawy, Ahmed El Sakka, and Khaled El Sawy.
The ceremony commenced with the Egyptian national anthem, followed by an opening address from veteran actor Hussein Fahmy, who expressed pride in Egypt’s cultural leadership and humanitarian commitment. “Egypt has never abandoned its duty to support others,” he said, referring to the country’s continued support for Sudan, Lebanon, and Palestine, and its pivotal role in achieving the Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement to halt the aggression in Gaza.
Fahmy also highlighted Egypt’s growing global presence, celebrating achievements such as Dr. Khaled El-Anani’s appointment as UNESCO Secretary-General, Dr. Mina Rizk’s election as FAO Executive Council Chair, and the national football team’s qualification for the World Cup.
A Celebration of Art, History, and Human Spirit
In his keynote speech, Minister of Culture Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henno praised cinema’s timeless power to connect humanity, describing it as “the magical camera that allows us to live a thousand lives.” Henno reflected on Tutankhamun’s discovery as a moment linking history and imagination, later immortalized by cinema—“an art that gives life to history and presence to imagination,” he said.
Henno emphasized that the Grand Egyptian Museum now revives that moment of glory and creativity, standing as “a testament to Egyptian genius and a new gateway for cinematic inspiration.” He also affirmed that the seventh art will continue to narrate “stories of hope, pain, and resilience—from Gaza’s heart to Africa’s cradle of dreams—through the universal language of beauty and humanity.”
The Minister concluded by declaring the official launch of CIFF 2025, promising “an exceptional edition that places humanity at its center through films that inspire freedom, creativity, and enlightenment.”
Honoring Icons and Preserving Cinematic Heritage
Fahmy also introduced the Egyptian Film Restoration Initiative, a national project restoring over 1,400 Egyptian classics in cooperation with the Cultural and Cinematic Investment Holding Company. He expressed gratitude to the restoration team at Media Production City, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Egypt’s cinematic legacy for future generations.
The ceremony featured an emotional tribute video to late cinema legends Nabil El-Halafawy, Samihah Ayoub, Lotfi Labib, Suleiman Eid, Taymour Taymour, Samah Abdel Aziz, and Ahmed Abdullah.
Awards and International Recognition
The festival honored acclaimed Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan—president of the international competition jury—with the Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement, presented by the Minister of Culture. In his acceptance speech, Ceylan expressed his pride in chairing the jury in Cairo, “a city where history and cinema intertwine.”
Egyptian star Khaled El Nabawy received the prestigious Faten Hamama Excellence Award, dedicating it to his late parents, wife, children, and the Palestinian people. Director Mohamed Abdel Aziz was also celebrated with the Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement for his long-standing contribution to cinema, theater, and television.
A Global Celebration of Cinema
Media presenter Jasmin Taha Zaki hosted the ceremony, highlighting cinema’s role as “a mirror of society and a beacon of creativity.” She introduced the festival juries, featuring international filmmakers and critics from Egypt, France, Turkey, China, Tunisia, Italy, Morocco, and India.
The opening night concluded with the screening of the Brazilian film “The Blue Trail,” marking the official start of ten days of screenings, panels, and global film showcases across Cairo’s cultural venues.
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