Cairo International Film Festival 2024

[Chris Knipp]

Cairo resurges

Despite the horrors of the war on Gaza only a little more than 200 miles away, the Cairo International Film Festival is back and runs Nov. 13-22, 2024. The distinguished film critic Deborah Young's introduction can be found in The Film Verdict.

The Return of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF)
- Deborah Young -

The Cairo International Film Festival has taken many different directions in the course of its 45-year history, and one of the thrills of attending this venerable event is to discover where the gentle Nile currents are leading it. Last year they were torrential. The abrupt start of the Israeli-Hamas war and the shock waves of its horrors brought cultural events to a standstill and forced organizers to make the heart-wrenching decision to cancel the festival. It was a stern reminder of Cairo’s central role in the region and the predominance of politics over everything else.

Now, in the face of the war’s escalation, the festival is preparing to host its 45th edition under the new leadership of festival director Essam Zakaria, a well-known film critic, and the continuing presidency of legendary Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy. In his remarks at the festival’s press conference, Fahmy drew attention to “a special tribute to Palestinian cinema, highlighting its rise, resilience, and contributions to the path toward self-determination.” The choice for the opening night film fell on Passing Dreams by leading Palestinian documentary maker Rashid Masharawi. There will be a Palestinian competition section and a jury headed by Prof. Amr El-Leithy, alongside a Gaza Films Awards Jury led by film critic Ahmed Shawky. And undoubtedly much discussion and debate on the war.

[The introduction continues HERE]

FROM GROUND ZERO (multiple directors).
Curated by producer-director Rashid Mashrawi, this is an anthology of 22 short films "offering a rawly immediate and deeply human response to devastation in the Gaza Strip."

[Chris Knipp]

MANUAL FOR A DIVORCE

More from Cairo Film Festival

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ABU ZABAL 89
Directed by Bassam Mortada
“…Bassam Mortada's 'Abo Zaabal 89' is a personal odyssey about the scars of political activism in contemporary Egypt, and a big win for Arab documentary filmmaking"

HUSSEIN FAHMY, a president for all seasons
The affable president of the Cairo Film Festival is a clear-sighted leader whose other job is being one of Egypt's biggest stars.

MANUAL FOR A DIVORCE
Directed by Peter Ghesquiere
“…an absurdly enjoyable twist on the real-world situation and revels in a somewhat bleak sense of humour…” " Peter Ghesquiere channels Wes Anderson in this mannered short comedy about a couple who are separated when their children get a divorce."

NIGHT HAS COME
Directed by Paolo Tizon
" A group of young men must endure the hardships of a rigorous military training programme in Paolo Tizon’s intimate and revealing documentary.""…a depiction of an almost ultimate machismo, while also taking note of its beating emotional heart…"


NIGHT HAS COME

[Chris Knipp]

THE BLUE LAKE

More CIFF...

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THE BLUE LAKE/LE LAC BLEU
Directed by Daoud Aoulad-Syad
VERDICT: A captivating story, at once simple and profound, describes the relationship between a blind boy and his loving grandfather as they travel through the desert in Daoud Aoulad-Syad’s layered road movie, ‘The Blue Lake’.


THE CHANT

THE CHANT
Directed by May Ghouti
The stories of three very different women intersect in May Ghouti’s delicate ensemble drama that manages to pack a quietly emotional punch.


SPRING CAME ON LAUGHING

SPRING CAME ON LAUGHING
Directed by Noha Adel (Egypt/France 2024; 96 mins.)
"Heightened Cairo-set melodrama features five tales of fracturing female relationships. . . Simple conversations swiftly descend into explosive confrontations in Spring Came On Laughing. Noha Adel’s Cairo-set debut feature shatters the sunny surface of disparate female lives to reveal the snakepit of tortured emotions lurking beneath" (Alan Hunter, SCREEN DAILY).

[Chris Knipp]

WITNESS (SHAHID)

A new Iranian film at CIFF

WITNESS
Directed by Nader Saeivar
(Link to NOv. 19 VERDICT review by Stephen Dalton)
Iranian director Saeivar used Jafar Panahi as cowriter and editor made a film about the Women Life Freedom movement in Iran following the killing of Mansa Amini in custody by the "Morality Police" Sept. 2022. VERDICT: "The Witness is a solidly crafted drama about how multiple generations of free-spirited women have been repeatedly brutalised and betrayed by the regime." It's "a little slow and creaky in places," i"worthy intentions.. not always matched by dramatic force." But "the subject matter is urgent and the treatment feels heartfelt." Screenings in Cairo this week are part of "a healthy international festival run."
In Farsi
100 minutes

Note: Everything here is courtesy of THE FILM VERDICT.

[Chris Knipp]

Discussions at CIFF

Putting an end to stereotypes in Africa's cinema
The Cairo Industry Days' dynamic panel about African cinema urged filmmakers to challenge the systems that restrict them.

Adham Youssef

Nov. 20, 2024.

The Cairo International Film Festival made a considerable effort this year to showcase the African continent’s storytelling diversity. The lineup include Mati Diop’s festival hit Dahomey, Anis Djaad’s Land of Vengeance from Algeria, and Mohamed Subahi’s militant documentry Madaniya from Sudan. Other highlights are Walid Mattar’s The Bridge from Tunisia, Bassam Mortada’s much-talked-about Abo Zaabal 89 from Egypt, and I’m Not Myself by Morocco’s Hicham El Jebbari. Madagascar’s Luck Razanajaona celebrates musical heritage with Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story, while Yasemin Samdereli offers an international Somali perspective in Samia. The festival’s Best African Feature Film award, including a $5,000 cash prize, will be announced at the festival’s closing.

In addition to a jury dedicated to African cinema, a panel on African Representation in Cinema drew much interest as part of Cairo Industry Days. Moderated by Variety writer and critic John Bleasdale, it featured award-winning director and producer Amjad Abu Alala, South African project coordinator of the Durban FilmMart Institute Faiza Williams, and Franco-Burkinabè producer, critic, and film consultant Claire Diao from Africa No Filter.

Diao noted that both international and some Arab audiences have a tendency to perceive Africa through negative stereotypes. She highlighted Africa No Filter’s efforts to reshape these narratives by providing two types of funding: US $5,000 for short films and $10,000 for feature-length projects. Africa No Filter iAs an organization committed to amplifying authentic, diverse African stories while challenging outdated perceptions. Through grants, research, and advocacy, it supports creators showcasing the continent’s cultural richness and innovation.

Diao emphasized that projects are selected based on positive representations. She recounted her experience growing up in Europe, where NGO campaigns frequently portrayed Africa through images of poverty, such as malnourished children. When she worked on a project featuring African characters using phones and speaking Portuguese, audiences were surprised, a reaction that reflects deeply ingrained stereotypes.

She also revealed plans for Africa No Filter to expand its support for filmmakers, increase funding, and introduce a program on distribution for African professionals.

Faiza Williams stressed the importance of fostering a new generation of African mentors to guide filmmakers in avoiding harmful stereotypes. She introduced the Future Mentors Programme, a Durban FilmMart Institute initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of mentors from Africa and its diaspora. The program seeks experienced film professionals who want to mentor aspiring filmmakers.

The Durban FilmMart, hosted at the Durban Film Festival, connects African filmmakers with global industry professionals, facilitating co-productions, funding, and creative collaboration. It provides a space for project pitches, workshops, and networking sessions, contributing to the growth of African cinema.

She also mentioned the DMF Business Lab, a 14-week program designed to equip emerging producers with financial, legal, and accounting knowledge to ensure sustainable filmmaking practices.

Amjad Abu Alala discussed challenges his films faced, such as the lack of recognition for Africa’s diversity, including Arab Africans and speakers of English, French, and Portuguese. He noted that international funding entities often expected film posters to depict poverty. As the producer of Goodbye Julia — a Sudanese drama exploring guilt and reconciliation — he shared how the film overcame such biases, earning accolades like the Freedom Award at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard in 2023, and Best Film at the El Gouna Film Festival.

While Diao stressed the need for African voices on film selection committees to promote diverse representation and discourage films that reinforce stereotypes, Williams expressed optimism, citing the success of Durban alumni whose projects have gained international recognition. She referenced Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo, which participated in Durban’s development program in 2020 and later screened in Venice, Cairo, and the Red Sea Film Festival.

The topic of training skilled professionals came up more than once. Abu Alala called for more opportunities for Sudanese and African students in filmmaking institutions in Egypt and France. He identified the lack of technical training in Sudan as a major obstacle to developing skilled professionals such as cinematographers and sound engineers, and recommended apprenticeship models, like the one used in Goodbye Julia, where Sudanese film students shadowed professionals to gain hands-on experience.

Touching on the bottom line, Diao highlighted the practical challenges African filmmakers face, such as high intercontinental travel costs. She noted that flying someone from Europe to Africa is often cheaper than traveling between African countries. Panelists also highlighted the challenges posed by European funding, which often requires a significant portion of the crew to come from the funding country. Abu Alala overcame this in his first film by hiring Arab professionals with French passports to align with his vision.

Overall, the panelists emphasized how African filmmakers must challenge the systems that restrict them. Whether by forming regional alliances, exploring untapped narratives, or expanding collaboration with other creative sectors, the potential of African cinema lies in its ability to redefine global perspectives. This effort, they argued, starts with acknowledging and celebrating Africa’s diversity, both in its stories and the people who tell them.

[Chris Knipp]

Cairo 2024: The Awards
The Cairo jury gave their main prize to Romanian director Bogdan Muresanu’s tragicomic Cold War period piece 'The New Year That Never Came', but local writer-director Noha Adel earned the most awards and warmest reviews with her bittersweet female-driven ensemble drama 'Spring Came Laughing'..
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Cairo International Film Festival
Stephen Dalton
Nov. 22nd, 2024

Golden Pyramid Award For Best Film
“The Year That Never Came” (Romania)
Director: Bogdan Muresanu

Silver Pyramid Special Jury Award, for Best Director
“Postmarks” (Russia)
Director: Natalia Nazarova

Bronze Pyramid Award For Best First or Second work of a Director
“Malu” (Brazil)
Director: Pedro Friere

Naguib Mahfouz Award For Best Screenplay
“Vittoria” (Italy)
Directors, screenplay: Alessandro Cassigoli, Casey Kauffman

Best Actor Award
Lee Kang Sheng for “Blue Sun Palace” (US)
Director: Constance Tsang

Best Actor Award
Maxim Stoyanov for “Postmarks” (Russia)
Director: Natalia Nazarova

Best Actress Award (Special Mention)
Alina Khojevanova for “Postmarks” (Russia)
Director: Natalia Nazarova

Best Actress Award
Yara de Novaes for “Malu” (Brazil)
Director: Pedro Freire

Henry Barakat Award For Best Artistic Contribution
“Ayse” (Türkiye)
Director: Necmi Sancak

Henry Barakat Award For Best Artistic Contribution
“Spring Came Laughing” (Egypt)
Director: Noha Adel

The International Critics Prize (FIPRESCI)
“Spring Came Laughing” (Egypt)
Director: Noha Adel

Saad Eldin Wahba Award for Best Arabic Film
“A State of Passion” (Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, United Kingdom, Kuwait)
Producers: Carol Mansour, Muna Khalidi

Salah Abu Seif Award for Best Director
“Spring Came Laughing” (Egypt)
Director: Noha Adel

Youssef Sherif Rezkallah Award for Best Screenwriter
“Arzé” (Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia)
Director: Mira Shaib / Script: Louay Khraish, Faissal Sam Shai

Best Actor Award
Mohamed Khouyi in “The Blue Lake” (Morocco)
Director: Daoud Aoulad-Syad

Best Actress Award
Diamond Bou Abboud for “Arzé” (Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia)
Director: Mira Shaib

Actress Special Mention
Rehab Anan for “Spring Came Laughing” (Egypt)
Director: Noha Adel

Shadi Abdelsalam Award for Best Film
“Wild Diamond” (France)
Director Agathe Riedinger

Fathy Farag Award (Special Jury Award)
“Simon of the Mountain” (Argentina)
Director: Federico Luis

Special Mention
“Abu Zaabal 89” (Egypt)
Director: Bassam Mortada

Youssef Chahine Award for Best Short Film
“David” (China)
Directors: Kai Xue, Hong Jiexi

The Special Jury Award
“The Last Dismissal” (Saudi Arabia, Egypt)
Director: Jowaher Alamri

Special Mention
“The Mother and the Bear” (Egypt)
Director: Yasmina El Kamaly

45th Cairo International Film Festival African Feature Award
“Dahomey” (France, Senegal, Benin)
Director: Mati Diop

Special Jury Prize
“Abu Zaabal 89” (Egypt)
Director: Bassam Mortada

45th Cairo International Film Festival Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema Award
“Brief History of a Family” (China, France, Denmark, Qatar)
Director: Lin Jianjie

Broadcasting & Television Union of Organizations of Islamic Cooperation Award Presented to the top Palestinian documentaries or short films
“Square Kilometer Dreams” (Palestine)
Director: Qassam Sbeih

Second Prize
“A State of Passion” (Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, United Kingdom, Kuwait)
Producers: Carol Mansour, Muna Khalidi

Third Prize
“Passing Dreams” (Palestine, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, France)
Director: Rashid Masharawi

Special Mention
“The Deer’s Tooth” (Palestine)
Director: Saif Hammash