CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OPENS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR ITS CAIRO FILM CONNECTIONS
TO SUPPORT ARAB FILMMAKERS
The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) announced today that submissions are now open for its 6th Cairo Film Connection (CFC), held as part of the 2nd Cairo Industry Days from November 21 to 25. Deadline for CFC project submissions is August 1, 2019. The 41st edition of the festival will run from November 20-29, 2019.
The 6th edition of the Cairo Film Connections (CFC) will bring together international producers, financiers, distributors, representatives from funding entities, sales agents, and TV networks to initiate international co-productions and partnerships with filmmakers from the Arab world. A jury comprised of prominent film professionals will select projects to receive cash and in-kind prizes presented by CFC’s partners.
To be eligible for submission to the Cairo Film Connection, projects must be directed by filmmakers of Arab nationality or origin. The project must be a work of feature length fiction or non-fiction in development or post-production phase. The director of the project must have previously directed a minimum of one film, whether short or feature length film.
Last year’s edition of CFC was supported by partners that believe in the power and influence of cinema. The partners were Badya by Palm Hills Developments, Arabia Pictures, Arab Radio and Television Network (ART), Aroma Studios for Post-Production Services, ERGO – Creative Media Ventures, Iraqi Cinemas, OSN, Front Row Distribution, Kuwait National Cinema Company (KNCC), New Century Productions, and the Arab Cinema Center (ACC). The value of the awards presented by CFC’s partners during the last edition exceeded $120,000. This year’s partners and awards will be announced soon.
Held in partnership with the Arab Cinema Center (ACC), the 1st Cairo Industry Days featured the participation of more than 200 leading professionals in the international film industry, and the selection of 32 film projects within its different activities, in addition to two workshops; developing TV screenplays and developing film screenplays, along with a two-day summit, organized by Global Media Makers (GMM) in cooperation with Film Independent. The 1st edition also hosted seven master classes, eight panel discussions and four in conversation sessions led by film experts from inside and outside the Arab world.
Producer, screenwriter and President of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) Mohamed Hefzy explained: “One of the most important factors that made the 1st Cairo Industry Days successful was the number of projects submitted to the Cairo Film Connection and the partners who take great interest in developing film content and contribute to make it happen. This success leaves us with a great challenge to make the upcoming edition more successful and effective, which complies with the Cairo International Film Festival’s aim to become an influential event for the film industry in the region, whether it is through the Cairo Film Connection, the activities of the Cairo Industry Days, or showcasing Arab and international films.”
Film Critic and Media Figure Youssef Cherif Rizkallah, Artistic Director of the Cairo International Film Festival, added: “The huge success achieved by the 1st edition of the Cairo Industry Days is a reflection of the Cairo International Film Festival’s determination to take serious steps forward, aiming to consolidate a greater relationship with the film industry and its leaders. This is the same policy adopted by the artistic team in selecting the films and various activities of the festival; to have an active role in supporting the film industry in Egypt and the Arab region.”
Film Analyst Alaa Karkouti, Managing Partner of the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) and CEO of MAD Solutions, commented: “We are proud that the Cairo International Film Festival has come back to offer a forum for Arab and international filmmakers. The Arab Cinema Center is continuing its partnership with the Cairo Industry Days, which will take further steps to support Arab cinema and open up new horizons for cooperation between the region and the rest of the world.”
The Cairo Industry Days’ team is comprised of Meriame Deghedi, Manager of Cairo Film Connection (CFC), and Aliaa Zaky, Head of Cairo Industry Days; under the supervision of Producer and Screenwriter Mohamed Hefzy, President of Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF).
Cairo Industry Days, the industry platform of the Cairo International Film Festival launched during the 40th edition of the festival which took place from November 20-29, 2018. Cairo Industry Days provides an important space for discussions, networking, meetings, workshops, master classes and partnership opportunities between Arab talents and regional and international key industry professionals to further support Arab Cinema.
Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) is one of the oldest cultural events in Africa and the Middle East, and is one of the 13 festivals in Africa and the Middle East to be accorded category “A” status by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) in Paris.
CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OPENS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR ITS CAIRO FILM CONNECTIONS
TO SUPPORT ARAB FILMMAKERS
Cannes, 20 May 2019: The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) announced today that submissions are now open for its 6th Cairo Film Connection (CFC), held as part of the 2nd Cairo Industry Days from November 21 to 25. Deadline for CFC project submissions is August 1, 2019. The 41st edition of the festival will run from November 20-29, 2019.
The 6th edition of the Cairo Film Connections (CFC) will bring together international producers, financiers, distributors, representatives from funding entities, sales agents, and TV networks to initiate international co-productions and partnerships with filmmakers from the Arab world. A jury comprised of prominent film professionals will select projects to receive cash and in-kind prizes presented by CFC’s partners.
To be eligible for submission to the Cairo Film Connection, projects must be directed by filmmakers of Arab nationality or origin. The project must be a work of feature length fiction or non-fiction in development or post-production phase. The director of the project must have previously directed a minimum of one film, whether short or feature length film.
Last year’s edition of CFC was supported by partners that believe in the power and influence of cinema. The partners were Badya by Palm Hills Developments, Arabia Pictures, Arab Radio and Television Network (ART), Aroma Studios for Post-Production Services, ERGO – Creative Media Ventures, Iraqi Cinemas, OSN, Front Row Distribution, Kuwait National Cinema Company (KNCC), New Century Productions, and the Arab Cinema Center (ACC). The value of the awards presented by CFC’s partners during the last edition exceeded $120,000. This year’s partners and awards will be announced soon.
Held in partnership with the Arab Cinema Center (ACC), the 1st Cairo Industry Days featured the participation of more than 200 leading professionals in the international film industry, and the selection of 32 film projects within its different activities, in addition to two workshops; developing TV screenplays and developing film screenplays, along with a two-day summit, organized by Global Media Makers (GMM) in cooperation with Film Independent. The 1st edition also hosted seven master classes, eight panel discussions and four in conversation sessions led by film experts from inside and outside the Arab world.
Producer, screenwriter and President of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) Mohamed Hefzy explained: “One of the most important factors that made the 1st Cairo Industry Days successful was the number of projects submitted to the Cairo Film Connection and the partners who take great interest in developing film content and contribute to make it happen. This success leaves us with a great challenge to make the upcoming edition more successful and effective, which complies with the Cairo International Film Festival’s aim to become an influential event for the film industry in the region, whether it is through the Cairo Film Connection, the activities of the Cairo Industry Days, or showcasing Arab and international films.”
Film Critic and Media Figure Youssef Cherif Rizkallah, Artistic Director of the Cairo International Film Festival, added: “The huge success achieved by the 1st edition of the Cairo Industry Days is a reflection of the Cairo International Film Festival’s determination to take serious steps forward, aiming to consolidate a greater relationship with the film industry and its leaders. This is the same policy adopted by the artistic team in selecting the films and various activities of the festival; to have an active role in supporting the film industry in Egypt and the Arab region.”
Film Analyst Alaa Karkouti, Managing Partner of the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) and CEO of MAD Solutions, commented: “We are proud that the Cairo International Film Festival has come back to offer a forum for Arab and international filmmakers. The Arab Cinema Center is continuing its partnership with the Cairo Industry Days, which will take further steps to support Arab cinema and open up new horizons for cooperation between the region and the rest of the world.”
The Cairo Industry Days’ team is comprised of Meriame Deghedi, Manager of Cairo Film Connection (CFC), and Aliaa Zaky, Head of Cairo Industry Days; under the supervision of Producer and Screenwriter Mohamed Hefzy, President of Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF).
Cairo Industry Days, the industry platform of the Cairo International Film Festival launched during the 40th edition of the festival which took place from November 20-29, 2018. Cairo Industry Days provides an important space for discussions, networking, meetings, workshops, master classes and partnership opportunities between Arab talents and regional and international key industry professionals to further support Arab Cinema.
Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) is one of the oldest cultural events in Africa and the Middle East, and is one of the 13 festivals in Africa and the Middle East to be accorded category “A” status by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) in Paris.
