On November 22, the 45th edition of Cairo International Film Festival concluded, after being held from November 13, 2024, for ten days. During the festival, the audience watched 195 films in various sections, starting with the International Competition, Short Film Competition, International Critics’ Week, Official Selection out of competition, the Horizons of Arab Cinema program, International Panorama, Midnight screenings, and a collection of cinematic classics under the title “Cairo Classics”.
Following the announcement of the festival’s awards, which totaled 35 prizes in different categories. The Cairo Film Festival, chaired by actor Hussein Fahmy and managed by film critic Essam Zakaria, introduced new awards such as Best Arab Film, Best Documentary Feature Film, Best Palestinian Film, Best Asian Film, Best African Film (“Africa No Filter”), and Gaza Film Award. In addition to the regular awards, including the FIPRESCI Prize, Critics’ Week Awards, Short Film Competition, and International Competition.
Among the 195 films, several Films won recognition, including the Romanian film “The New Year That Never Came”, the Russian film “Postmarks”, the Brazilian film “Malu”, the Italian film “Vittoria”, the American film “The Blue Sun Palace”, the Turkish film “Ayse”, the Egyptian film “Spring Come on Laughing”, the Palestinian film “A State of Passion”, the Lebanese film “Arzé“, the Moroccan film “The Blue Lake”, the French film “Wild Diamond”, the Argentine film “Simon of the Mountain”, the Egyptian film “Abu Zaabal 89”, the French film “Dahomey”, the Chinese film “A Brief History of a Family”, and the Palestinian film “Passing Dreams”.
The 45th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival witnessed the presence of a number of important films that achieved popular success and offered unique cinematic experiences, despite not receiving many awards. Among them was the Latin American film “Bitter Gold” by director Juan Olea, which participated in the Critics’ Week competition. This film, Olea’s second feature, stood out as one of the festival’s highlights for its captivating and intense cinematic experience in terms of visual and narrative storytelling.
Additionally, the Singaporean film “Pierce” by director Nelicia Low, shown in the Official Selection out of competition, presented a complex and ambiguous story about two brothers with a relationship marked by hatred and resentment, despite the presence of love. The Serbian film “When the Phone Rang”, directed by Iva Radivojevic and featured in the International Competition, took Audiences through a deeply human experience about a young girl living on the margins of life due to war, with her only connection to the outside world being a phone.
Watching the Australian film “Memoir of a Snail” by Adam Elliot provided a unique experience, diving into Elliot’s clay-animated world, exploring life’s paradoxes and the emotional fluctuations of human existence.
Despite the many films showcased at the 45th Cairo International Film Festival, there were films that garnered particular attention and awards, including “Abu Zaabal 89” by director Bassam Mortada. This film’s subject, dealing with detention and the reflection on the boundaries of an individual’s relationship with their country and themselves, sparked particular interest within Egypt, alongside its visual storytelling that blends documentary and drama.
The Romanian film “The New Year That Never Came,” lasting 138 minutes, offered a rich and complete cinematic experience that combines drama, dark comedy, and deep political and human reflections on the political changes Romania experienced in the 21st century. Meanwhile, the Egyptian film “Spring Come on Laughing” depicted the reality of Egypt through four stories set in the spring season, marked by sorrow and pain.
The Palestinian cause was strongly represented at the 45th edition of the festival, with the opening film “Passing Dreams” by Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi, as well as the films “From Ground Zero” the Palestinian Film Award, and the ongoing discussion of Palestinian issues in many films, including “A State of Passion” by directors Carol Mansour and Mona Khaledi.
In addition to the film screenings, the festival saw a notable presence of Cairo Industry Days and the Film Market, which brings together filmmakers and production companies from across the Arab world and internationally. The market includes a number of Egyptian production companies and major cinematic institutions.
In addition to the films, the festival featured several important meetings with global filmmakers such as director Gaspar Noé, Irish director Jim Sheridan, American actor Eric Roberts, and Chinese director and actor Chen Sicheng, throughout the festival days. This was followed by the honoring of Egyptian director Yousri Nasrallah, Egyptian actor Ahmed Ezz, and Bosnian director Danis Tanović, who served as the president of the International Competition jury for the 45th edition.