Cairo — In a grand press conference at the Sofitel Nile El Gezirah Hotel, the organizers of the 46th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) unveiled the details of this year’s much-anticipated edition, set to take place from November 12 to 21, 2025. The event drew a wide array of film professionals, actors, critics, diplomats, and sponsors, underscoring the festival’s enduring stature as one of the Arab world’s most prestigious cultural gatherings.
The ceremony began with the Egyptian national anthem before Hussein Fahmy, President of the Festival, and Mohamed Tarek, Artistic Director, took the stage to announce this year’s theme and lineup. Fahmy, addressing an audience of artists and journalists, described CIFF as “a living archive of Egyptian creativity and a bridge between civilizations,” emphasizing that the central theme of the 46th edition will be “The Human Being.” The films showcased, he said, would highlight universal struggles, dreams, and the shared resilience of humanity — reaffirming Egypt’s long-standing role as a beacon of art, enlightenment, and cultural diplomacy.
In his remarks, Fahmy extended deep gratitude to the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, led by Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henu, calling its continued support “the cornerstone of CIFF’s success since its founding in 1976.” He also hailed the Cairo Opera House as “the warm home that continues to embrace Egyptian cinema,” and paid tribute to Dr. Khaled El-Enany on his election as Director-General of UNESCO, describing the appointment as “a source of pride for Egypt and all Arabs, and proof of Egypt’s global cultural leadership.”
The veteran actor linked this year’s festival to Egypt’s ongoing diplomatic efforts, noting that “art remains a force of peace, bringing nations together in humanity and hope.” He expressed gratitude to the festival’s High Advisory Committee, which includes Amal Othman, Gaby Khoury, Jasmine Taha Zaki, Samir Farag, Tarek El-Shenawy, Laila Eloui, and Omar Abdel Aziz, along with volunteers and staff whose work “keeps CIFF alive as a home for dreamers.”
The press conference also saw the unveiling of the official poster, inspired by Mahmoud Mokhtar’s “Egypt’s Renaissance” statue — a symbolic nod to Egypt’s modern identity emerging from its ancient glory. The festival will also present a special section of restored Egyptian classics, which Fahmy described as “a bridge between the golden age and the digital future of Egyptian cinema.”
Among this year’s honorees, CIFF will present the Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement to director Mohamed Abdel Aziz and cinematographer Mahmoud Abdel Samie, while actor Khaled El Nabawy will receive the Faten Hamama Excellence Award for his contributions to Arab cinema.
Artistic Director Mohamed Tarek elaborated on the festival’s artistic vision and international lineup, announcing that Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi, winner of Cannes’ Caméra d’Or and Berlin’s Golden Bear, will receive the Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement, and Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass will be honored for her global career and commitment to portraying human and political struggles. Tarek affirmed that both honorees reflect the festival’s emphasis on “cinema as a mirror of the human soul.”
Tarek also revealed the jury lineup for the International Competition, chaired by acclaimed Turkish auteur Nuri Bilge Ceylan, alongside Simona Paggi (Italy), Guan Hu (China), Nadine Khan (Egypt), Basma (Egypt), Leyla Bouzid (Tunisia), and Bogdan Muresanu (Romania). Other categories include the Arab Cinema Horizons Competition, the International Critics’ Week, the Short Films Competition, the Best Documentary Award, and the New Media Screenings Section, led respectively by Mohamed Nabil, Osama Abdel Fattah, Marwan Omara, Ramy El Metwally, and Noura Kahil. Additional juries will award the NETPAC Prize for Best Asian Film, the FIPRESCI Award, and the Best Arab Film Award.
The festival’s industry platform, Cairo Industry Days, directed by Mohamed Sayed Abdel Rahim, will return as the hub for co-productions, workshops, and networking between Arab, African, and international producers. Rodrigo Brom, director of Cairo Film Connection, announced the selected projects and juries, highlighting CIFF’s role as an incubator for emerging filmmakers.
Fahmy also revealed an expanded network of cultural and educational partnerships, including collaborations with The American University in Cairo, the Drosos Foundation, and Coventry University. A special collaboration with Reesha Publishing House will result in the publication of five books on this year’s honorees and a commemorative volume celebrating the centenary of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI).
A slate of sponsors — Banque Misr, Lexus, Creed, Fresh, Spiro Spathis, EgyptAir, and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — was introduced through short films, underscoring private sector enthusiasm for CIFF’s cultural mission. Media partners include DMC, FP7 McCann Cairo, United Media Services, VOX Cinemas, France 24, and Monte Carlo Doualiya.
Throughout the year, CIFF representatives attended major international festivals — Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Shanghai — to deepen partnerships and enhance Cairo’s global cinematic footprint, particularly through collaborations with China and Latin America. This growing presence underscores Cairo’s bid to reclaim its position as the cinematic capital of the Arab world and Africa, being the region’s only FIAPF Category A-accredited festival.
Cultural analysts see this edition as a turning point. Layla Osman, an Egyptian film scholar, noted that “CIFF’s human-centered theme gives the festival moral relevance at a time when political realities often eclipse artistic expression. It’s a reminder that empathy is cinema’s greatest strength.” Meanwhile, Dr. Farid Al-Hashimi, a regional film consultant, said: “Integrating restored classics with new media is a visionary move — it allows CIFF to preserve its heritage while courting a new generation of digital storytellers.”
As geopolitical tensions simmer in the region, CIFF’s message of artistic diplomacy carries weight. Egypt’s role in regional mediation, coupled with its vibrant creative industries, gives the festival a soft-power significance extending beyond cinema. As one European journalist at the conference observed, “Cairo is not just curating films — it’s curating dialogue.”
With submissions having closed in August after an extended deadline to accommodate record participation, organizers anticipate an eclectic lineup of over 100 films representing more than 40 countries. The 46th edition’s guiding motif — “The Human Being” — promises to intertwine art, empathy, and identity in a celebration of stories that transcend borders.
Concluding the conference, Hussein Fahmy declared that the 46th CIFF would mark a “renaissance worthy of Egypt’s cinematic legacy and its people’s enduring love for art.” As the lights dimmed and the official trailer screened to applause, the message was clear: Cairo is ready once again to place humanity — and its dreams — at the heart of the global screen.
