The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) today announced the full details of its 46th edition, scheduled to take place from November 12 to 21, 2025. The announcement was made during a press conference attended by several actors, filmmakers, journalists, media representatives, festival sponsors, ambassadors, and senior officials.
The conference began by the appearance of veteran artist Hussein Fahmy, the festival’s president, and film critic Mohamed Tarek, the artistic director, on stage.
In his opening speech, Fahmy welcomed the audience, emphasizing that the Cairo International Film Festival represents a cornerstone of Egypt’s artistic memory and the heart of every lover of authentic cinema in the Arab world.
He stated: “I am honored to stand before you today as one of you, a person passionate about cinema and believing that true art has the power to change reality and instill hope in people’s hearts even during life’s most challenging moments.”
He explained that the festival’s vision this year focuses on “the human being” as a central theme, through films that reflect human concerns and dreams, while embodying Egypt’s message as a beacon of creativity and enlightenment.
Before delving into the details of the new edition, Fahmy extended his gratitude to several institutions and individuals, saying:
“I must sincerely thank everyone who has exerted effort and dedication to bring this festival to life.”
• The Egyptian Ministry of Culture, led by Minister Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henu, whose support Fahmy described as the “cornerstone” of the festival’s success since its launch in 1976.
The Egyptian Opera House, referred to as “the warm home embracing the festival.”
He also offered special congratulations to Dr. Khaled El-Anany on his election as Director-General of UNESCO, calling it “a pride for Egypt and all Arabs and a testament to Egypt’s great cultural standing.”
In a humanitarian note, he expressed his pleasure that the press conference coincided with Egypt’s successful mediation in reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, emphasizing that “art always carries a human message that brings peoples together and affirms everyone’s right to dream and feel safe.”
He thanked the festival’s Supreme Advisory Committee, including: Amal Osman, Gaby Khoury, Jasmine Taha Zaki, Samir Farag, Tarek El-Shenawy, Omar Abdel Aziz, Amr Badr, Laila Eloui, Mohamed El Adl, Massad Foda, and Hisham Abdel Khalek, and concluded with special thanks to the festival office staff and volunteers.
The conference unveiled the official poster for the 46th edition, inspired by Mahmoud Mokhtar’s statue “Egypt’s Renaissance.” Fahmy explained that the design symbolizes contemporary renaissance building on the greatness of the past.
This was followed by a special presentation of restored classic Egyptian films, a project meant to bridge the history and future of cinema.
Furthermore, Fahmy highlighted the festival’s strong international presence throughout the year at major film events such as Berlin, Cannes, Shanghai, and Venice, emphasizing strengthened relations with international partners, particularly in China.
After that, Fahmy announced the Egyptian honorees for this edition:
• Renowned director Mohamed Abdel Aziz, awarded the Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement.
• Veteran cinematographer Mahmoud Abdel Samie, also receiving the Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement.
• Actor Khaled El Nabawy, awarded the Faten Hamama Award for Excellence.
Artistic Vision, International Honorees, and Juries
Film critic Mohamed Tarek, the festival’s artistic director, then presented the artistic vision for the 46th edition. He announced the international honorees:
• Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi, receiving the Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement for her career distinguished by profound humanism and major global awards, including the Golden Camera and Golden Bear. Her latest film, The Silent Friend, will screen in the official competition.
• Palestinian actress Hiam Abbas, also awarded the Golden Pyramid for her contributions in highlighting humanitarian and social issues through a global artistic career, including works such as Munich and Succession, remaining a voice for the Palestinian cause.
Tarek then presented the festival competitions and juries:
• International Competition Jury, chaired by Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, including Italian editor Simona Paggi, Chinese director Guan Hu, Egyptian director Nadine Khan, Egyptian actress Basma, Tunisian director Leyla Bouzid, and Romanian director Bogdan Muresanu.
• Parallel competitions were presented by their directors:
• Arab Cinema Horizons, directed by Mohamed Nabil.
• International Critics’ Week, directed by Osama Abdel Fattah.
• Short Films, directed by Marwan Amara.
• Best Documentary, directed by Rami Al-Matwally.
• New Media Screenings, directed by Noura Kaheel.
Juries for the NETPAC Award (Best Asian Film), FIPRESCI, and Best Arab Film were also announced.
Regarding Cairo Industry Days, Mohamed Sayed Abdel Rahim, director of Cairo Film Industry Days, presented the industry platform details, followed by Rodrigo Brom announcing sponsors, juries, and projects for the Cairo Film Festival Forum.
At the end of the conference, Hussein Fahmy promised the audience “a true renaissance edition worthy of the Cairo Festival’s history and of Egypt,” before opening the floor to journalists’ questions and presenting the official promotional clip for the 46th edition.
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