Abdel Rahim: CIFF's Cairo Industry Days Mission Is Embracing Openness, Building Partnerships, Nurturing Talent

The 45th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), the oldest annually running film festival in The Middle East and Africa, is witnessing the 6th edition of Cairo Industry Days (CID), a platform that provides a space for industry-related discussions, meetings, workshops, and lectures. 

In past years, CID provided opportunities for young filmmakers to establish collaborations between Egyptian and Arab talents as well as some of the most important international figures in the world of cinema.

This year a new team has been appointed to take charge and elevate its status by introducing new masterclasses, workshops, and different topics for panel discussions, focusing on practical and in-depth mentoring.

Mohamed Sayed Abdel Rahim, head of the 6th edition of the Cairo Industry Days, talks about this year's event, how it has developed, and plans for the future.

• What were the main challenges that encountered in organizing Cairo Industry Days (CID), particularly as you are part of a new management team for a postponed edition of the festival?

As a new management team navigating a postponed edition of a renowned festival, our primary challenge was reestablishing our roadmap amid shifting priorities and logistical adjustments. This included rebuilding trust with sponsors in light of recent economic challenges and aligning expectations with our key partners. Additionally, some original programming plans required creative rethinking due to changes in participants’ availability. While these obstacles demanded flexibility and innovation, we were ultimately able to bring together a dynamic and meaningful lineup of events.

• What are the main features of the new edition of Cairo Industry Days (CID)?

This year, Cairo Industry Days focuses on three key areas. First, we’re harnessing the expertise of accomplished filmmakers from Egypt, the Arab region, and beyond, with a vision centred on connecting with younger generations and sharing knowledge with emerging talents through panels and workshops.

The second area highlights inspiring filmmakers who, in a short time, have made impactful films, achieving rapid strides in the industry. These creators represent the future of cinema, and our aim is to foster meaningful exchanges between them and the audience.

The third focus is supporting new and promising talents through a range of professional workshops, such as screenwriting, sound design, and acting. Each workshop is crafted to address essential skills—like sound, which is often overlooked in capacity-building programs. Alongside these efforts, the Cairo Industry Connection serves as a specialised platform for supporting both fiction and documentary film projects in various stages of development and post-production. Our goal this year was to represent a wider range of projects from the Arab world, with selected entries from the Levant, North Africa, Sudan, and the Gulf, alongside greater representation of Egyptian filmmakers, with eight Egyptian films among the 18 projects chosen for this edition.

• What aspects have you built upon from previous editions of Cairo Industry Days, and what has changed?

Cairo Industry Days has always stood out for its openness to the advanced cinema world of Europe and the Americas, with events that bring valuable industry insights to participants. In this edition, we’ve expanded further to include deeper connections with the film industries in Africa, China, and the Gulf, in addition to Europe and the U.S.

We've also broadened our circle to make Cairo Industry Days more inclusive. This year, we brought in diverse expertise and avoided limiting participation to a select few. In a key development, we collaborated with the Egyptian Chamber of Cinema, which represents all major Egyptian production and distribution companies. Their strong presence in this edition is evident through open discussions, one-on-one sessions, and group workshops, engaging both local and international festival guests and industry professionals.

• What are the key new initiatives for Cairo Industry Days this year?

A major highlight this year is the revival of the Cairo Film Market. While not entirely new to the festival, the market had been on pause for several years, and bringing it back felt essential, especially at a time when there’s a pressing need to support the Egyptian film industry. In recent years, there’s been a sense that Egyptian cinema is losing ground to other regional players. Reviving the market is a direct response to this, aimed at reinvigorating Egypt's role in regional cinema.

Another significant step is the increased collaboration with countries in the region, particularly Saudi Arabia. A large Saudi delegation is participating in the festival, opening doors for partnerships with Egyptian companies through co-productions, Egyptian-Saudi films, and the exchange of film projects. This renewed cooperation strengthens cinematic ties between Egypt and the Gulf, fostering a shared vision for the future of Arab cinema.

• What are your aspirations for the future, and what has been achieved so far given the available resources?

Reviving the Cairo Film Market is a major step forward this year, and it’s a significant challenge as well. The market has become a cornerstone of top film festivals globally because it offers a vital space for filmmakers to connect and collaborate. It's the go-to destination for festival attendees—whether they’re scouting the latest releases, forming partnerships for co-productions or distribution, or exploring production services. We aim to bring this vision to life in this edition, with the hope it fully meets our aspirations.

Looking ahead, it’s essential that the Cairo Film Market becomes a lasting feature in the festival. Today, no major film festival can truly thrive without a marketplace that brings together diverse companies and institutions, providing a real platform for exchanging services and products.