For the first time, the festival has also shortlisted six Arab films screened in Egyptian theatres to compete for a new award.
Cairo Film Society Festival, headed by Director of Cinematography Mahmoud Abdel Samie, will take place from January 29 until February 5 at the Creativity Center at the Egyptian Opera House.
This year, the festival is combining the 47th and 48th editions, as last years’ was delayed by the pandemic.
The awards and honours ceremony will take place on February 12.
Abdal Samie said: “This festival seeks to present the state of Egyptian cinema and monitor what is presented through the works shown in Egyptian theatres every year, however, given the conditions of the Coronavirus and the site closure, there is a new mediator that must be dealt with, which is digital platforms, and to reflect that the festival management added a new item in the festival list.”
He explained that via a general referendum made up of association members, critics, journalists and filmmakers, the best of 2020/2021’s films shown in theatres and digital platforms have been selected including Youm w Leila by Ayman Makram, Sondok al Donia by Imad Al-Bahat, Saheb al Makam by Muhammad Jamal Al-Adl, Hazr Tagawol by Amir Ramses, and Tawaam Rohy by Othman Abu Laban.
Meanwhile, films selected from 2021 are Waefet Regala by Ahmed al-Gendy, Al-Arif by Ahmed Alaa al-Deeb, Al Ens w al Nems by Sherif Arafa, Moussa by Peter Mimi, 200 Geneh by Muhammad Amin, Bara al Manhag by Amr Salama, Abu Saddam by Nadine Khan and Kabal Lal Kasr by Ahmed Rashwan.
This year six Arab films have also been selected, which includes Between Heaven and Earth by Palestinian director Najwa Najjar, You will die at twenty by Sudanese director Amjad Abu Al-Ala, 200 meters by Palestinian director Amin Nayfeh, If You Want, Like Heaven by Palestinian director Elia Suleiman, The Man Who Sold His Back by Tunisian director Kawthar Ben Haniyeh, and Gaza Monamour by Palestinian director Arab Nasser.
The Cairo Film Society Festival is held every year in collaboration with the Syndicate of Film Professions and the Cultural Development Fund, supported by the Ministry of Culture.
