Cairo International Film Festival celebrates 50 years with 47th edition

The Cairo International Film Festival is celebrating its 47th edition, marking 50 years since its inaugural launch in 1976. Founded by critic Kamal Al-Malaakh, the festival was established to position Egypt at the center of the global cinematic landscape and provide a platform for Arab cinema to engage with international cultures.

As part of the 47th edition, scheduled from November 11 to 20, the festival’s Classics Program will feature four iconic films centered on the theme of crime. The selection includes the American political film “All the President’s Men,” which documents the Watergate scandal, Claire Denis’s “Beau Travail,” Jean-Pierre Melville’s crime film “The Samurai,” and the classic “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”

Throughout its history, the festival has navigated various political and economic challenges that impacted its regularity. It has been led by several notable figures, including Kamal El-Sheikh, Saad Eddin Wahba, Hussein Fahmy, and most recently, Mohamed Hefzy.