Cairo International Film Festival sets dates for 47th edition

The 47th Cairo International Film Festival will take place from November 11 to November 20, 2026, marking 50 years since the festival’s inaugural edition in 1976, qna.org.qa reported. Festival organizers announced the dates and core programming details, balancing historic film preservation with new industry initiatives.

Festival Dates and Golden Anniversary Programming

The upcoming edition arrives five decades after the festival first launched in 1976 as the sole Arab and African film event accredited within category A by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), according to qna.org.qa. Alongside the anniversary milestones, the festival agenda prioritizes cinematic heritage preservation, featuring restored classic films to help modern audiences rediscover foundational works.

Organizers are also advancing industry support initiatives such as the From Book to Screen project, which qna.org.qa noted is designed to connect novelists with filmmakers and boost literary adaptations. Operating under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the festival maintains its historical role as a leading competitive showcase across the region, قناة الغد reported.

Feature Selection and International Jury Panels

During a press conference held on October 11, 2026, festival president and Egyptian artist Hussein Fahmi revealed that the 47th edition has drawn 145 films and cinematic works originating from 64 countries and production entities, مجلة لها reported. Submissions totaled roughly 5,600 entries across multiple categories, comprising 2,100 feature-length film submissions and 3,500 short film requests.

The programming lineup features 17 world premieres, 5 international premieres, and 87 regional premieres across the Arab world, according to مجلة لها. The international feature competition is chaired by Moroccan filmmaker Nabil Ayouch, with Egyptian actress Ghada Adel serving as a member of the main jury panel, youlyou.com reported. Additional competition juries feature international and regional filmmakers, including Syrian-German director Amir Fakhr الدين and British sound designer Paul Davies, FilFan reported.

Artificial Intelligence Posters and Lifetime Honors

Festival leadership addressed public discussion regarding the official event poster for the 47th edition, which features visuals inspired by late actress Shadia and her role in the film Something of Fear (Shai Min El Khouf), مجلة لها reported. Responding to questions about artificial intelligence tools utilized in designing the promotional material, Fahmi stated that AI technologies represent the future of cinematic industry materials, distinguishing between promotional design work and the full production of an AI-generated feature film.

The festival will also present prominent career accolades during the November event, قناة الغد reported. Screenwriter Medhat Adel and renowned director of photography Said Shemei will each receive the Golden Pyramid Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement, while actor Asser Yassin is slated to receive the Faten Hamama Excellence Award.