The 46th Cairo International Film Festival concluded its edition with a deeply emotional closing ceremony that highlighted the human role of cinema and celebrated remarkable Arab and international achievements. The evening opened with an impactful moment as the voice and image of the Palestinian child Hind Rajab were played on screen, casting a profound silence across the hall before Festival President Hussein Fahmy took the stage.
In his speech, Fahmy stressed that cinema holds the power to preserve truth and document stories that the world often attempts to overlook. He referred to Hind Rajab’s tragic final moments, emphasizing, “The strength of cinema lies in its ability to keep real stories alive, to ensure that children like Hind are not reduced to numbers but remain human beings with voices and lives that matter.” He added that choosing “The Voice of Hind Rajab” as the closing film was a deliberate message underscoring this belief.
Fahmy praised the rich program of this year’s edition, which featured heavily attended screenings, restored classics, masterclasses, and a dynamic film market. He extended his gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and all partnering state institutions, in addition to the festival’s sponsors and the dedicated teams behind all departments and ceremonies.
He also congratulated the State of Qatar on the launch of the Doha Film Festival and announced a new cooperation agreement between CIFF and the Media City Film Commission in Qatar—an initiative expected to strengthen Arab cinematic collaboration.
International Competition Awards
The international competition jury, chaired by acclaimed Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan, announced the following main awards:
– Golden Pyramid for Best Film: “Dragonfly” by Paul Andrew Williams
– Silver Pyramid for Best Director: Tarzan and Arab Nasser for “Once Upon a Time in Gaza”
– Bronze Pyramid – Jury Prize: “As We Breathe” by Seamus Aaltoon
– Naguib Mahfouz Award for Best Screenplay: “The Things You Kill”
– Best Actor: Majd Eid for “Once Upon a Time in Gaza”
– Best Actress (shared): Andrea Riseborough and Brenda Andrew Williams for “Dragonfly”
– Best Artistic Contribution: “Sand City” for cinematography by Mathieu Gio Mbini
Arab Horizons—Tunisian Triumph
A major highlight of the evening was the Tunisian win:
Tunisian actress Afef Ben Mahmoud earned the Best Performance Award for her role in “Round 13,” receiving enthusiastic applause for a compelling and emotionally rich portrayal.
Additional awards included:
– Best Screenplay: Yasser Shafiey for “Complaint No. 713317”
– Special Jury Prize (Salah Abu Seif Award): “ANTI-CINEMA” by Ali Said
– Saad Eddine Wahba Award for Best Arab Film: “Dead Dog” by director Sara Francis
Short Film Competition
– Youssef Chahine Award for Best Short Film: “Cairo Streets” by Abdallah Al-Tayeh
– Best Arab Short Film: “Two Tetas” by Lynn Al-Safah
– Special Jury Prize: “A Very Straight Neck” by Neo Sora
FIPRESCI Award
The International Critics’ Prize (FIPRESCI) went to “The Things You Kill” by Alireza Khatami.
Best Arab Feature Film
The award for Best Arab Feature Film went to “Once Upon a Time in Gaza” by Tarzan and Arab Nasser, with a special mention for “Fellaneh” by Zahraa Ghandour.
Best Asian Film (NETPAC Award)
The NETPAC Award for Best Asian Feature Film was granted to “The Botanist” by Jing Yi.
Audience Award
The Youssef Sherif Rizkallah Audience Award, presented by Cred, was won by “One More Show”, which documents the resilience of the Free Gaza Circus amidst destruction, offering a moving portrait of hope through art.
A Closing Night to Remember
With heartfelt messages, powerful films, and an impressive list of winners, the 46th edition of CIFF concluded as one of its most memorable. The festival reaffirmed its longstanding role as a major cultural platform—one that not only celebrates art but also preserves human stories and amplifies voices that must not be forgotten.
TunisianMonitorOnline Correspondent Douha Essaafi – CIFF
