[REVISION HISTORY]

North African international film festivals

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2026-11-04 01:23 UTC → 2026-11-10 13:03 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Major film festivals in Egypt and Morocco have announced their upcoming 2026 editions. The 47th Cairo International Film Festival is scheduled for November 11 to 20, marking its 50th anniversary. Founded by critic Kamal Al-Malaakh in 1976, 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.~~ landscape. Throughout its history, the festival has been led by figures such as Kamal El-Sheikh, Saad Eddin Wahba, Hussein Fahmy, and most recently, Mohamed Hefzy. The 47th edition includes 145 films from 64 countries. Moroccan filmmaker Nabil Ayouch will chair the international competition jury, which includes actress Fan Bingbing. ~~The festival is also introducing a ‘Genre Series’ development workshop and a Cairo XR programme for extended-reality experiences.~~ As part of the celebrations, the Classics Program will feature four iconic films centered on the theme of crime: ‘All the President’s Men,’ ‘Beau Travail,’ ‘The Samurai,’ and ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.’ Additionally, the festival has announced the Cairo Industry Days, scheduled for November 12 to 19. This program features 16 specialists, including director Matteo Garroni, screenwriter Medhat El Adl, and director Asif Kapadia. Film distributor Antoine Zand will also be honored for his career. The 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival will take place from November 20 to 28, featuring 76 films from 39 countries. The official competition, headed by actress Marion Cotillard, includes 14 feature films competing for the Golden Star. The lineup includes films addressing themes such as war, migration, and economic crises, alongside 11 films currently in the Oscar race. The festival program also includes sections such as Horizons, the 11th Continent, and a Moroccan cinema panorama, as well as the Atlas Workshops, a talent development initiative that supported 12 films in this edition. Highlights ~~of the Marrakech program~~ include the world premiere of Alkebulan by Moroccan director Yassine Marco Marroccu, as well as Waves of Silence by Farzad Samsami and Cairo Shadows by Rani and Salem Massalha.

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