The 46th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) announced on Thursday, 20 November, the winners of the “Future Generation Awards,” introduced last year as part of Cairo Industry Days (CID). The awards aim to support emerging Arab talents in directing, acting, film criticism, and visual arts, and to encourage fresh perspectives that reflect the diversity and evolution of Arab cinema.
Presented in collaboration with The Film Verdict, the awards embody the festival’s commitment to discovering a new generation of young filmmakers and empowering them to continue their creative journeys through support that contributes to the development of their professional careers.
This year’s edition honored four standout young talents whose work made a significant impact over the past year, in addition to a multidisciplinary artist whose contributions have enriched the artistic landscape across cinema, theater, dance, and performance arts.
Directing Award (Shared)
Mai Saad – Egypt
An Egyptian filmmaker who began her career as an assistant director on several feature-length and short films before shifting to directing and producing independent projects. She is currently producing a feature documentary and serving as the creative producer of a feature narrative film in development. Her documentary “Dayel ‘Anna” marks her debut as a director.
Ahmed Al-Danaf – Palestine
A Palestinian cinematographer and filmmaker from Gaza. He directed the short narrative film “A School Day” as part of the “Zero Distance” project, which won the Youssef Chahine Award at the 2024 Cairo International Film Festival and was screened at several international festivals. The documentary “Dayel ‘Anna” is also his first work as a documentary director.
Acting Award
Nahed El Sebai – Egypt
A prominent Egyptian actress known for portraying complex and daring characters in notable works such as “Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story”, “After the Battle”, and “678”, as well as her recent projects “Al-Sada Al-Afadil” and “Banat Al-Basha”. El Sebai continues to maintain a distinguished cinematic presence and is currently preparing to star in the film “Hiroshima”, scheduled for release at the end of 2025.
Film Criticism Award
Ahmed Ezzat Amer – Egypt
An Egyptian film critic whose analytical and critical writings have been published on several specialized platforms, including Ida2at, Al Jazeera Midan, Al Jazeera Documentary, Qroom, and Al Film magazine. He has served as a viewing committee member at various festivals, such as El Gouna Film Festival and the Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentary and Short Films.
His published works include “Yousry Nasrallah’s Cinema: Stories That Wish to Embrace the World” and “The Cinema of Deco Enidi: So That Magic Does Not Die in the World.”
Acting Performance Award / Multidisciplinary Artist
Shireen Karama – Lebanon
A Lebanese actress and multidisciplinary artist who returned to cinema through the lead role in “A Quiet Dog” by director Sarah Francis, which premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR).
Karama began her career in theatre under the guidance of renowned directors such as Roger Assaf, Siham Nasser, Jana Al-Hassan, and Georges Hachem, and has performed alongside prominent artists including Antoine Kerbage.
A former dancer, she trained in classical ballet as well as modern and contemporary dance. She also holds an academic background in psychology, with a Master’s degree from the University of Roehampton in London, and is an associate member of the British Psychological Society.
This rich, interdisciplinary background deeply informs her performances, enabling her to craft layered characters with psychological insight and striking artistic presence.
Cairo Industry Days continues, in its seventh edition, to strengthen its role as a platform for showcasing young talents and supporting their professional development—affirming the Cairo International Film Festival’s ongoing mission to advance the film industry and nurture a new generation of Arab filmmakers capable of delivering more innovative and influential cinema.
About Cairo Industry Days
Cairo Industry Days was launched as a dedicated platform to support and develop the film industry in the Arab world and Africa by providing funding opportunities, training programs, and networking channels between filmmakers and international experts. The initiative includes several key components, most notably the Cairo Film Connection, the Professionals Forum, and specialized workshops. It has since become one of the region’s most important industry events, offering tangible opportunities for project development and emerging talent.
About the Cairo International Film Festival
The Cairo International Film Festival is one of the oldest and most esteemed festivals in the Arab world and Africa, and one of the leading international festivals accredited by the FIAPF. Established in 1976, the festival is held annually under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture. Each edition seeks to balance artistic excellence with professional industry engagement, making CIFF a vital platform for intercultural dialogue and for promoting Arab cinema on the global stage.
TunisianMonitorOnline Correspondent Douha Essaafi – CIFF
