The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) has named Palme d’Or-winning Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan as the President of the International Competition Jury for its 46th edition, scheduled for November 12–21, 2025.
Ceylan, a towering figure in contemporary world cinema, is celebrated for his humanist dramas and meticulous visual style. His acclaimed body of work includes Winter Sleep, which won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014, as well as multiple Cannes awards for films like Uzak, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, and Three Monkeys.
In a statement, CIFF President Hussein Fahmy said the selection reflects the festival’s dedication to artistic excellence. “Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s cinema is a standard-bearer for bold, visionary filmmaking,” Fahmy noted. “His presence underscores our mission to position Cairo as a dynamic meeting point for the world’s most exciting cinematic voices.”
CIFF Artistic Director Mohamed Tarek added, “Ceylan’s films engage deeply with character, place, and time—values at the core of our curatorial approach. It is an honor to finally welcome him to lead our International Jury.”
In his role, Ceylan will oversee a panel of international industry figures in awarding the festival’s top prizes, including the Golden Pyramid for Best Film. The full jury lineup and official film selection will be announced in the lead-up to the November event.
The announcement marks a significant cultural partnership between CIFF, Turkish industry bodies TESİYAP and TÜRSAK, and the Turkish Embassy in Cairo. The collaboration will feature a special program of Turkish film screenings, a 15-member delegation from the Turkish film industry, and an expanded Turkish presence at the concurrent Cairo Film Market.
Background:
Nuri Bilge Ceylan is a writer-director and photographer whose contemplative, visually striking films have defined arthouse cinema for decades. He is one of the most decorated filmmakers in the history of the Cannes Film Festival.
The Cairo International Film Festival, founded in 1976, is the oldest and only FIAPF-accredited competitive feature film festival in the Arab world and Africa.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Douha Essafi)
