The Cairo International Film Festival, in its 46th edition, announced today, Thursday, November 20, the winners of the “Future Generation” Awards as part of the Cairo Industry Days (CID) program. The awards—introduced last year—aim to support emerging Arab talents in directing, acting, film criticism, and visual arts, and to encourage fresh perspectives that reflect the diversity and evolution of Arab cinema.
These awards come in collaboration with The Film Verdict, reaffirming the festival’s commitment to discovering a new generation of young filmmakers and empowering them to continue their creative journey through professional support that helps develop their careers.
This year’s awards celebrated four standout young talents who delivered noteworthy work over the past year, in addition to honoring a multidisciplinary artist whose contributions span cinema, theatre, dance, and expressive arts.
Best Directing Award (Shared)
Mai Saad – Egypt
An Egyptian filmmaker who began her career as an assistant director on several feature and short films before moving into directing and independent film production. She is currently producing a feature documentary and serves as creative producer for a feature narrative film in development. Her documentary “Still Have a Show to Perform” marks her directorial debut.
Ahmed Al-Danaf – Palestine
A Palestinian cinematographer and filmmaker from Gaza. He directed the short narrative film “School Day” as part of the “Zero Distance” project, which won the Youssef Chahine Award at the 2024 Cairo International Film Festival and screened at several international festivals. “Still Have a Show to Perform” is also his first documentary as a director.
Best Acting Award
Nahed El Sebai – Egypt
A prominent Egyptian actress recognized for portraying complex and bold characters in notable films such as “Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story,” “After the Battle,” and “678.” Her recent works include “El Sada El Afadel” and “Banat El Basha.” El Sebai continues to make an impact on the cinematic scene as she prepares to star in the upcoming film “Hiroshima,” set for release at the end of 2025.
Best Film Criticism Award
Ahmed Ezzat Amer – Egypt
An Egyptian film critic who has published analytical and critical articles across several established platforms, including: Ida2at, Al Jazeera Mubasher, Al Jazeera Documentary, Qomra, and The Film Magazine.
He has served as a viewing committee member for various festivals, including El Gouna Film Festival and the Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts.
Amer has authored several books, most notably:
“The Cinema of Yousry Nasrallah: Stories That Want to Embrace the World”
“The Cinema of Dieko Enidi: So That Magic Does Not Die in the World”
Best Performance / Multidisciplinary Artist Award
Shireen Karama – Lebanon
A Lebanese actress and multidisciplinary artist who returned to cinema through her starring role in “A House Dog” by director Sarah Francis, which premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
She began her career in theatre under the guidance of renowned directors including Roger Assaf, Siham Nasser, Jana Al-Hassan, and George Hashem, and has performed alongside distinguished artists such as Antoine Kerbage.
A former dancer, she studied classical ballet, modern, and contemporary dance. She also holds a master’s degree in psychology from Roehampton University in London and is an associate member of the British Psychological Society.
Her diverse background is reflected in the depth of her performances and her ability to craft psychologically layered characters with a strong artistic presence.
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