The Cairo International Film Festival rolls out the red carpet for its opening tonight at al-Mahka theatre in the Saladin Citadel of Cairo, welcoming over 2,000 attendees.
The CIFF, one of the most prominent film events in the Middle East, will run from 9 to 18 November, featuring 155 films from 50 different countries.
Samir Farid, the festival's president and renowned Egyptian film critic, has geared efforts to put the festival back on the map with a new vision along with a slew of distinguished, well-chosen films.
The CIFF was cancelled twice, once in 2011 and again in 2013, due to security concerns. Despite the occurrence of the festival in 2012, the closing ceremony could not escape the unrest swept the country at the time, resulting in its cancellation due to the outbreak of clashes in Tahrir Square.
The international competition is scheduled to showcase 16 films from across 14 countries, while the festival's special screenings section will include 13 films.
This year, CIFF is taking a fresh, new direction comprising documentaries and animation films within the international competition: three documentaries and two animation films are contending with 11 feature-length narrative films.
CIFF also announced the Greek Cinema as its "National Cinema Guest of Honor" showcasing 11 features that made a mark in the Greek film industry between 1955 and 2011.
Egyptian actress Yousra poses for the camera.
The Egyptian diva Yousra has been selected to chair the eight-member judging panel for the international competition, which is the first time for an Egyptian to be assigned as the jury president in the history of the festival competition. Meanwhile, the festival has dedicated this year's edition to the late veteran actress Mariam Fakhr Eddine, who passed away in 3 November 2014.
The legendary Egyptian actress Nadia Loutfy will be at the top of the list of honorees of the Naguib Mahfouz Lifetime Achievement Award (The Memorial Golden Pyramid) along with renowned filmmakers including French intellect Jack Lang, Italian director Simone Massi, German auteur Volker Schlöndorff and Moroccan filmmaker Noureddine Sail.
All the festival's films will be displayed to the public at the Cairo Opera House exclusively, screening daily from 10 till 18 November. Tickets are available for LE20, and a 50 percent discount is offered for students.
The movie-screening equipment in the opera's seven halls, that will be hosting the festival, underwent a LE1 million renovation in an effort to provide one venue for all the films.
Film critic and director Ayman Makram, however, opposed the idea explaining: "The films of the festival are supposed to be reachable in different neighborhoods, not only in Cairo, but also the festival has to expand to other governorates in order to boost its chance to make a real impact across the country."
In unprecedented move, the film of opening night, titled "The Cut," will be screened on 10 November, a day after the inauguration ceremony.
The German movie, directed by Turkish-German Fatih Akin, is a dark survival drama that takes place in the midst of the Armenian Genocide.
Little England, the film of the closing night for the 36th edition of the CIFF.
For more information on upcoming events, visit the CIFF website or their Facebook page
