Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), headed by renowned actor Hussein Fahmy, announces the opening of applications for the “Genre Series Development” workshop, organized as part of Cairo Industry Days (CID) during the festival’s 47th edition, scheduled to take place from November 11 to 20, 2026. The workshop targets screenwriters developing series projects across various drama genres, including crime, action, horror, fantasy, science fiction, and thriller.
The workshop is part of the festival’s ongoing efforts to support screenwriters and content creators by providing specialized opportunities for developing drama projects. Through an intensive training program combining creative and practical approaches, participants will be guided in transforming their initial ideas and treatments into well-developed projects with strong potential for further development, production, and access to the audiovisual content market.
The workshop focuses on the distinctive characteristics of genre series and the storytelling techniques they require, including world-building, plot construction, character and conflict development, and the management of suspense and narrative pacing, in ways that reflect the conventions of each genre and the demands of television series storytelling.
Participants will engage in a practical development process covering their projects’ core concepts, dramatic structures, character arcs, and creative and thematic visions. The process will culminate in the preparation of a professional pitch package, enabling participants to present their projects clearly and compellingly to producers, production companies, television broadcasters, streaming platforms, and other key stakeholders in the content industry.
The workshop aims to advance selected projects from the initial concept or treatment stage to a more mature level of development and readiness for professional pitching. Through hands-on sessions and practical discussions, participants will have the opportunity to refine their projects, strengthen their key elements, and identify their artistic and production potential.
The workshop will be led by Egyptian screenwriter Mahmoud Ezzat, drawing on his experience in screenwriting and drama project development. He will work closely with participants to refine their ideas, deepen their treatments, and establish clear creative visions for their projects, enhancing their ability to present them professionally to key players in the television production market.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be an Egyptian national or a resident of Egypt.
- Be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
- Have previous writing experience through involvement in writing at least one short film, feature film, or television series.
- Have a series project at an early stage of development that meets the workshop’s submission requirements.
Applications may be submitted by an individual writer or a writing team of up to three writers, provided that all team members are actively involved in developing the submitted project.
Selected participants are required to attend all workshop sessions and related activities held as part of Cairo Industry Days during the festival’s 47th edition.
Intellectual Property Rights
Applicants must be the original authors of the submitted projects or the legal rights holders authorized to submit and develop them. In cases involving multiple authors or rights holders, applicants are responsible for informing all relevant parties and obtaining the necessary approvals for the project’s participation in the workshop.
For projects adapted from or based on existing works, including novels, short stories, plays, articles, films, characters, or any other works protected by intellectual property rights, applicants must clearly disclose the source material and provide documentation proving that they possess the legal rights required to develop the project.
Applicants bear full responsibility for the accuracy of all information and documentation concerning project ownership and exploitation rights, as well as for any legal claims or disputes that may arise from the submission of inaccurate or incomplete information.
Application Deadline and Submission Process
Applications must be submitted through the designated online form available on the official Cairo International Film Festival website. Applicants are required to complete all necessary information and upload the relevant project materials and supporting documents in accordance with the announced requirements.
Application deadline: October 25, 2026.
For applications and further details, please visit the festival’s official website:
About Cairo International Film Festival
Founded in 1976, Cairo International Film Festival is one of the oldest film festivals in the Arab world and Africa, and the only Arab and African film festival accredited as a Category “A” festival by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). Held annually under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the festival has established itself throughout its history as a leading platform for Egyptian, Arab, and international cinema, bringing together film screenings and cultural dialogue while contributing to the development of the film industry, supporting emerging talent, and discovering new projects. This year, the festival celebrates the 50th anniversary of its inaugural edition.
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