CAIRO — Celebrating half a century of cinematic heritage, the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) has unleashed the full programmatic details for its milestone 47th edition, running from November 11–20, 2026. Marking its 50th anniversary since its founding in 1976, the prestigious festival has curated a massive slate comprising 145 films and projects originating from 64 countries and production territories.
The blockbuster lineup boasts 17 world premieres, 5 international premieres, and 87 regional premieres across the Arab world.
The numbers were unveiled during a high-profile press conference held Sunday afternoon at the Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah. Festival President, veteran star Hussein Fahmy, and Artistic Director Mohamed Tarek took the stage alongside key industry figures, flanked by a robust gathering of local, regional, and international media.
CIFF revealed an overwhelming response from the global film community this year, receiving a staggering 5,600 submissions across its competitive and non-competitive sections—including 2,100 feature films and 3,500 shorts. The record-breaking turnout underscores the festival’s rising global currency and its enduring status as a vital bridge between international auteurs, rising talent, and audiences.
The 47th edition’s curated roster spans features, documentaries, shorts, and immersive media. The detailed breakdown highlights 109 feature-length films, 29 shorts, and 17 documentaries, alongside the dedicated “Cairo XR” program showcasing cutting-edge extended reality and interactive media experiences.
Reflecting a sprawling geographical and cultural footprint, the selected titles represent 64 countries and production entities spanning Egypt, the broader Arab world, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The eclectic roster bridges disparate artistic schools and aesthetic movements, drawing from an expansive map of production hubs:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.
On the premiere front, CIFF boasts 17 world premieres—offering Cairo audiences the absolute first look at these global titles—alongside 5 international premieres making their maiden voyages outside their countries of origin, and 87 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) premieres.
Altogether, the 109 premiere screenings cement Cairo’s position as a premier launchpad for global cinema, reinforcing the festival’s hard-earned trust among major international studios, production houses, and world-sales agents.
These metrics carry extra weight for a milestone edition commemorating 50 years of cinematic history. As CIFF continues to refine its competitive sections, expand platforms for emerging filmmakers, and forge new international partnerships, it builds directly upon a cultural legacy launched in 1976—one that has spent five decades championing dialogue between Egyptian, Arab, and world cinema.
Recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) as one of the world’s accredited competitive feature film festivals (FIAPF-accredited), the Cairo International Film Festival remains the oldest and most storied film event in the Arab world and Africa. Founded in 1976, the festival is held annually under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture.
Published by: October 11, 2026.
