In 1976 a new story began in Cairo: the flags of 33 countries and nearly a hundred films gathered for the first edition of a festival dreamed up by the writer and journalist Kamal El Mallakh. Fifty years on, that dream has become one of the leading film events in the Arab world and Africa, a meeting point for filmmakers and audiences across cultures, languages and generations.
Under the theme « Fifty Years… A Story Called Cairo », Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), presided over by Hussein Fahmy, marks half a century since its founding at its 47th edition, from 11 to 20 November 2026, looking back on a journey rich in artistic and cultural milestones, in names that crossed its screens and in moments that now belong to the memory of Egyptian, Arab and world cinema.
A milestone in filmmakers’ careers
Over the decades, Cairo has become a milestone for many filmmakers. Some came with a first film and returned years later with international awards and a more mature vision; others took its stage to be honoured for a lifetime’s work, while others discovered new cinemas there or met partners for future projects. Around the festival grew a web of human and artistic ties that reached well beyond its screening rooms and brought Egyptian cinema closer to film industries worldwide.
Its successive editions have shown thousands of fiction features, documentaries and shorts, introducing Egyptian audiences to movements and traditions from many cultures. Its history is also one of visits by major actors, directors, critics and producers, and of tributes to great figures of Egyptian, Arab and world cinema through awards, honours, talks and encounters.
Hussein Fahmy: « Our responsibility is to preserve this history »
« I feel an immense sense of pride as we celebrate fifty years since the founding of Cairo International Film Festival, » said Hussein Fahmy, President of CIFF. « Its beginnings were made possible by people who believed that Egypt, with its rich cinematic heritage and cultural standing, deserved an international film festival that would bring the world together on its soil. » He paid tribute to Kamal El Mallakh and to all who founded, led or sustained the festival over the years.
Fahmy, whose relationship with the festival goes back many years, said his greatest joy today is to see new generations finding their place in it, whether by presenting their films or taking part in its programmes. « Our responsibility to this history is to preserve its value and continue developing the festival in step with the evolution of cinema and its industry, ensuring that Cairo remains a place where creative minds come together and new stories begin. »
Five decades of change
The anniversary comes after five decades of profound change in the film industry, from new shooting and exhibition technologies to new models of production and distribution and a shifting relationship between audiences and the screen. Through it all, the festival has kept showcasing international cinema, opening spaces for critical and artistic dialogue and offering emerging talent room to learn and grow.
The 47th edition carries this forward with a diverse film programme and professional and cultural activities that support the industry and widen collaboration, while making room for the films and projects of new generations. That is the deeper meaning of fifty years: turning accumulated experience into ground for new journeys, and keeping cinema a shared space where past, present and future meet.
Fifty years of films lighting up Cairo’s screens, of faces crossing its stages, of friendships born in its halls, and of audiences who gave it its true life. « Fifty Years… A Story Called Cairo »: a story begun by Egypt’s film lovers, to which each generation adds its own scene.
About Cairo International Film Festival
One of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in the Arab world and Africa, CIFF was founded in 1976 and is held under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. It is accredited by FIAPF, the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, and supports Egyptian and Arab cinema, presents outstanding international work, discovers new talent and fosters dialogue among filmmakers worldwide.
Source: Cairo International Film Festival press office