Moroccan film directors and actors will once again be featuring prominently at the 45th Cairo International Film Festival that runs from November 13 to 22 this year.
Three productions in various key categories, including a film by director Khaoula Assebab Benomar in the “International Critics’ Week” competition, are on this year’s program, and Moroccan actress Nisrin Erradi will be serving on the jury.In her film “Radia,” Benomar delves into the journey of Moroccan women toward independence, questioning societal definitions of success.
Moroccan filmmaker Daoud Oulad Al-Sayed will present his film, “Marja Zarqa” (the Blue Lagoon) in the “Horizons of Arab Cinema” competition. His 85-minute film tells the story of Youssef, a young orphan raised by his grandparents in a remote desert village, where a simple camera becomes a life-changing gift.
Hicham El Jabbari’s film, “Ana Machi Ana,” will appear in the festival’s “Special Screenings” session, which will present a selection of 12 feature films.
Festival director Essam Zakaria highlighted the longstanding participation of Moroccan filmmakers and actors in the festival, as an indication of the significant impact of Moroccan cinema.
Showcasing a total of 194 films from 72 nations, this year’s festival will lead off with Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi’s “Passing Dreams” as the opening film.
17 films will compete in the international competition, with 11 entries in the out-of-competition official section, and 32 competing in the short films category.
The international jury, chaired by Bosnian director and screenwriter Danis Tanovic, will oversee the main competition, while Egyptian director Sandra Nashaat will head up the short film jury.
The “Horizons of Arab Cinema” competition is led by Italian producer Enzo Porcelli. As one of the oldest film festivals in the Arab world, Africa, and the Middle East, the Cairo International Film Festival has received an “A” ranking by the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations.