70 participants from outside Cairo representing 23 Egyptian governorates, with women filmmakers accounting for 55% of those selected
Six days of training, specialized workshops and seminars, and encounters with leading Egyptian, Arab, and international film professionals
Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), presided over by renowned Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy, is pleased to announce the details of the second edition of its New Wave program, taking place as part of the festival’s 47th edition, scheduled from November 11 to 20, 2026. Organized in partnership with the Drosos Foundation and with support from the British Council, the program returns following the success of its inaugural edition last year.
Building on that success, New Wave continues its mission to discover and nurture emerging cinematic talent, offering aspiring filmmakers, students, and cinema enthusiasts from across Egypt an opportunity to embark on a unique journey combining learning, film screenings, and direct engagement with industry professionals. The initiative aims to broaden participants’ creative and professional horizons while helping them explore potential career paths within the film industry.
The program attracted significant interest this year, receiving more than 850 applications from across Egypt, from which 100 participants were selected. The selection process emphasized geographical diversity and varied artistic backgrounds, while prioritizing opportunities for emerging talents who face challenges in accessing professional training and industry networking, particularly those living in governorates far from Cairo.
This commitment is reflected in the diversity of the selected participants. Seventy participants come from outside Cairo, representing 23 Egyptian governorates, including Aswan, Alexandria, Beheira, Sohag, the Red Sea, Beni Suef, and Damietta, alongside 30 participants from Cairo. The group also includes five Arab residents in Egypt, originally from Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Yemen, and Palestine. Notably, women filmmakers account for 55% of all participants, reflecting the program’s commitment to fostering diversity and equal opportunities within the film industry.
New Wave offers a comprehensive experience that immerses participants in the artistic and professional environment of Cairo International Film Festival. Participants will attend selected screenings of prominent Egyptian, Arab, and international films, take part in seminars, specialized talks, and masterclasses, and engage directly with directors, producers, actors, and industry experts attending the festival.
These opportunities will expose them to a wide range of cinematic perspectives and provide valuable insights into different aspects of filmmaking.
In addition to participating in festival activities, the program features an intensive six-day training track, comprising specialized workshops and seminars covering key areas of the film industry, including directing, screenwriting, cinematography, producing, and editing.
The training focuses on developing participants’ creative and practical skills through interactive learning and professional exchange, while providing opportunities for individual mentorship and discussions tailored to the artistic challenges each participant currently faces.
The workshops and professional encounters will feature prominent figures from the Arab and international film industries, including Tunisian-French cinematographer Frida Marzouk, Jordanian producer Rula Nasser, Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, and Syrian filmmaker Ameer Fakhr Eldin. Each will share insights drawn from their professional experience across a range of disciplines, from visual storytelling, project development, and production to directing and film programming.
The program also places particular emphasis on connecting participants with Egyptian filmmakers through encounters with directors representing diverse artistic approaches and experiences in fiction filmmaking, documentary cinema, and television drama. These include Egyptian director Mariam Abou Ouf, filmmaker Bassam Mortada, director Noha Adel, and director Amr Moussa. These sessions will offer participants an opportunity to gain firsthand insights into each filmmaker’s creative process, working methods, and the challenges associated with different forms of film and television production.
The program will open with a creative workshop led by Egyptian actor Mohamed Hatem, one of the stars of Berlin, directed by Ahmad Abdalla and selected for the 47th edition of Cairo International Film Festival.
As part of Cairo International Film Festival’s commitment to making professional development opportunities accessible to emerging talents across Egypt, New Wave is fully funded for participants from outside Cairo, covering domestic transportation, shared accommodation, and festival accreditation. Made possible through the partnership with the Drosos Foundation and support from the British Council, this initiative seeks to overcome geographical and financial barriers that might otherwise prevent young talents from benefiting from such opportunities.
The continuation of New Wave for a second consecutive year reaffirms Cairo International Film Festival’s commitment to expanding its role in supporting the next generation of filmmakers. It also reflects the festival’s dedication to developing initiatives that connect film festivals with professional capacity-building, transforming the festival experience into an open space for learning, experimentation, and the exchange of expertise. Through this approach, CIFF aims to nurture emerging talent from across Egypt and strengthen its contribution to the future of the film industry.
By bringing together 100 emerging talents, each with their own experiences, questions, and ambitions, New Wave aspires to become a starting point for lasting professional relationships and creative collaborations that extend well beyond the festival’s ten days, bringing a new generation of filmmakers one step closer to realizing their dreams on screen.
About Cairo International Film Festival
Cairo International Film Festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in the Arab world and Africa, and among the leading international festivals dedicated to celebrating the art and industry of cinema. Founded in 1976, the festival is held under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and is accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).
Over five decades, CIFF has established itself as a prominent meeting place for filmmakers from around the world, a platform for discovering emerging talent, fostering cultural dialogue, and supporting the development of the Arab and international film industries.
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