The 46th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF46) concluded with a ceremony that balanced grandeur, artistic integrity, and emotional resonance. As one of the oldest and only FIAPF-accredited festivals in the Arab world and Africa, CIFF once again demonstrated why it remains a critical destination for filmmakers, critics, and global industry professionals seeking a gateway into Arab and African cinema.

With 150 films from 55 countries, restored classics, world and regional premieres, industry talks, and one of the region’s richest cultural programs, CIFF continued to sharpen its international profile while honoring the power of cinema to reflect, critique, and heal.

A Closing Moment That Stopped the Room

The ceremony opened with a profoundly human tribute: the image and final recorded phone call of Hind Rajab, the six-year-old Palestinian girl killed after pleading for help.
Her voice reverberated through the Grand Hall of the Cairo Opera House—something far more visceral than a symbolic gesture.

Festival President Hussein Fahmy addressed the audience with solemn clarity:

“Cinema preserves truth when the world chooses to look away.”

It set the emotional tone for the evening, which concluded with the festival’s closing film, The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by acclaimed Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania.

Star Presence & International Attention

The red carpet hosted a wide spectrum of Arab and international talent including Nelly, Khaled El Nabawy, Mahmoud Hemida, Laila Elwi, Elham Shahin, Tara Emad, Ahmed Magdy, alongside award-winning filmmakers from Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The strong presence of global festival programmers, sales agents, and producers signaled CIFF’s expanding footprint as an industry hub—particularly within the Middle East, Africa, and the Mediterranean region.

The Awards: A Year Defined by Bold Voices & Emotional Storytelling

CIFF46 showcased a notable artistic trend:
films grounded in human resilience, political memory, and psychological depth—often shaped by the complexities of the contemporary Middle East.

Here are the key highlights:

Golden Pyramid for Best Film: “Dragonfly”

British drama Dragonfly, directed by Paul Andrew Williams, clinched the festival’s top honor.
The film was celebrated for its delicate emotional core and performance-driven narrative.

• Best Actress (shared): Andrea Riseborough & Brenda Andrew Williams
  Their dual win reinforced the film’s critical acclaim and elegant minimalism.

???????? Palestinian Cinema Dominates the Festival

A historic year for Palestinian filmmaking:

“Once Upon a Time in Gaza” – Tarzan & Arab Nasser

???? Best Arab Feature Film
???? Silver Pyramid for Best Director
???? Best Actor – Majd Eid

The film blends social realism with poetic visual language, and its triple win underscores CIFF’s recognition of bold political filmmaking rooted in authentic lived experience.

“Habibi Hussein” – Alex Bakri

???? Best Film – International Critics’ Week

Producer Mai Odeh dedicated the award to Gaza and global refugee communities.

“One More Show” – Audience Award

Directed by Mai Saad and Ahmed ElDenf, the film captured the hearts of festivalgoers.

Documentary, Short Films & Emerging Voices

CIFF’s parallel competitions continued to spotlight new talent and innovative cinematic approaches.

Documentary Competition

???? Souraya Mon Amour – Nicolas Khouri

Short Film Awards

• Best Short Film (Youssef Chahine Award): Cairo Streets – Abdullah Al-Taye

• Best Arab Short Film: Two Tetas – Lene El Safah

• Special Jury Prize: A Very Straight Neck – Nyo Sora

FIPRESCI Award

???? The Things You Kill – Ali Reza Khatami
An introspective Iranian-Turkish production, marked by elegant pacing and a haunting emotional landscape.

???? Arab Horizons Competition: Reinventing Regional Storytelling

This section—one of CIFF’s most dynamic—rewarded sharp screenwriting, character-driven drama, and films daring enough to challenge their own forms.

• Best Acting: Afaf Ben Mahmoud (Round 13)

• Best Screenplay: Yasser Shafiee (Complaint No. 713317)

• Best Arab Film: Dead Dog – Sara Francis

• Special Jury Prize: ANTI-CINEMA – Ali Saeed

These films reflect a new generation of Arab storytellers: personal, experimental, politically aware, and globally conscious.

???????? Turkey in Focus: A Landmark Participation

This year marked Turkey’s largest presence since CIFF’s inception in 1976.
The “Turkish Spotlight” included:

• Five feature films

• One short film

• A series of industry events

• A full delegation from Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism

• The jury presidency of the internationally acclaimed director Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Turkish Awards:

• ???? Naguib Mahfouz Award for Best Screenplay: The Things You Kill

• ???? Bronze Pyramid: As We Breathe – Seamus Alton

The synergy between Egyptian and Turkish cinema was a major talking point among festival delegates.

???? A New Path Forward: CINE-MAD Initiative

Announced during the closing ceremony, CineMAD aims to bring Arab festival films to cinemas across the region—a long-awaited move to bridge the gap between festival acclaim and public access.

Twenty award-winning films from Egypt, Tunisia, Palestine, Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Syria, and Iraq will tour Arab theaters over the next three months.

For international industry watchers, CineMAD represents a rare distribution experiment in a fragmented market.

                                                                                                                          The Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi

✨ A Festival That Leaves an Echo

As the lights dimmed, CIFF46 left behind more than winners and applause:

• A reaffirmation of cinema’s political and emotional power

• A renewed spotlight on Palestinian, Turkish, and Arab filmmaking

• A revitalized industry program

• A widening global reach

CIFF proved once again that it is not only a festival of films, but a festival of memory, resistance, and artistic daring.

                                Hussein Fahmy – CIFF46 President and acclaimed actor

???? TheWorldScreen: Front-Row Coverage of CIFF46

Throughout the eleven-day festival, The World Screen delivered unmatched coverage:

• Exclusive red-carpet interviews

• Reports from screenings, Q&As, and masterclasses

• Daily critical reviews

• In-depth features on standout films

• Spotlight pieces on emerging Arab voices

• Social-first content reaching international audiences

With a commitment to global storytelling and cross-cultural cinema, TheWorldScreen continues to position itself as a key media partner for festivals across the Arab world and beyond.

Sari Albeder – CIFF46