The Luxor African Film Festival has officially opened call for entries for its upcoming 16th edition, scheduled to run from March 28 to April 3, 2027, in the historic city of Luxor.
Festival founder and president, screenwriter Sayyed Fouad, confirmed that submission forms are now live on the festival’s digital platform.
Filmmakers across Africa and the global diaspora can submit their work through December 15, 2026.
The competitive program features four primary sections: Long Narrative and Documentary, Short Films, Diaspora Cinema—highlighting African directors residing abroad—and a dedicated sidebar for regional storytellers from Luxor and Qena.
The 16th edition is set to honor late Egyptian composer Hany Shenouda, celebrating his groundbreaking film scores that redefined Middle Eastern soundtrack arrangement in cinematic classics such as The Suspect and Shams El-Zanati. The festival will also pay tribute to the late Cameroonian auteur and Écrans Noirs festival founder Bassek Ba Kobhio, alongside previously announced honoree, acclaimed Moroccan musician and actor Abdelwahab Doukkali.
In addition to its main lineup, Executive Director Azza El-Hosseiny announced a zero-budget short filmmaking initiative tailored for emerging local talent in Upper Egypt, complementing the ongoing Daoud Abdel Sayed Screenwriting Competition aimed at cultivating new narrative voices.
This year’s curated focus spotlights the rising cinematic landscape of East Africa, showcasing contemporary works from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia that navigate shifting cultural identity, gender representation, and socio-political evolution across the region.
Eligible entries must be produced in 2026 and hold no prior screening history within Egypt.
