The event will accept applications until August 31, 2021, on the official website for feature-length and short films.
The Cairo International Film Festival has opened submissions for its 43rd edition, which will take place from December 1–10, 2021.
The deadline for participants is August 31, 2021; they may submit through the official festival website for feature-length and short films and via Film Freeway for short films only.
Mohamed Hefzy, Producer and President, CIFF, said: “The concentration of Arab festivals in a period of only two months towards the end of the year has made this edition more challenging than the previous years. Given the rise in competition for premieres in the region of the most important Arabic and International films, the Artistic team began work last February on securing some of the most unique and diverse films to the festival’s programme, targeting a selection of approximately 100 films in the festival’s various sections and competitions.”
With regards to the challenges related to the Covid-19, he expressed his optimism in holding the 43rd edition in safer circumstances despite the pandemic, referring to efforts of vaccination drives across countries worldwide, including Egypt, that allow for relaxed restrictions during travel, opening of theatres, and social gatherings.
He added: “Just like we did not lose hope last year and successfully held the festival, we will not lose hope this year either. We will do our utmost best to organise a hygienically safe and artistically superior edition, while complying with all the sanitary measures and regulations set by the Egyptian Government and the World Health Organisation.”
The Cairo International Film Festival is the oldest international annual festival in the Middle East and North African and the only one accredited as Category A by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations in Paris (FIAPF), alongside 14 other festivals organising international competitions.
