Five Specialized Mentorship Tracks to Support Filmmakers, with the Program Extending Beyond the Festival
Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), headed by renowned actor Hussein Fahmy, has unveiled the full details of the Cairo Film Connection Mentorship Program, held as part of the 12th edition of Cairo Film Connection (CFC). The program aims to support filmmakers and advance their projects by drawing on the expertise of five professionals from various fields of the film industry. Designed as a comprehensive initiative, it begins before the festival, continues throughout its activities, and extends beyond its conclusion.
The program offers five specialized mentorship tracks covering documentary development, film project pitching strategies, creative budgeting and financing, festival strategies and engagement with European broadcasters, as well as a new track dedicated to legal affairs, film contracts, and intellectual property rights.
The five mentors are filmmaker and producer Jihan El-Tahri; Egyptian legal expert Khaled El-Arabi; Egyptian writer, director, and producer Mohamed Hammad; director, producer, and editor Khalid Shamis; and Dutch producer and film industry expert Margje de Koning. Together, they bring diverse expertise in film production, development, financing, and distribution, offering participants valuable professional perspectives tailored to the nature and needs of their projects.
Jihan El-Tahri – Documentary Development
Jihan El-Tahri is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, writer, and visual artist with an extensive career spanning more than 15 films as director and producer. Her work has received international recognition and numerous awards. A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since 2017, she has also exhibited her artistic work at international museums and cultural events and authored publications exploring political and historical issues.
Alongside her filmmaking career, El-Tahri has extensive experience mentoring filmmakers through international film labs and development workshops. She has served on the boards of several African and international film organizations, including the Pan-African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI) and the African Diaspora Filmmakers Association.
Through the mentorship program, El-Tahri will support documentary filmmakers in developing their projects and refining their creative visions, helping them shape films with a distinctive artistic identity and the potential to connect with audiences.
Khaled El-Arabi – Legal Affairs, Film Contracts, and Intellectual Property Rights
Khaled El-Arabi is an Egyptian legal expert specializing in entertainment law, intellectual property, and copyright. He is the founder of El-Arabi Law Firm in Cairo, which provides specialized legal services to artists, filmmakers, writers, and production companies, including contract drafting and negotiation, legal representation, and the protection of intellectual and creative rights.
El-Arabi has provided legal counsel for several internationally acclaimed films, including Captains of Zaatari, You Will Die at Twenty, and Goodbye Julia, all of which have gained recognition at major international film festivals. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master’s degree in Law from Mansoura University.
His mentorship track will address the legal dimensions of filmmaking, including intellectual property rights, production and distribution agreements, and the legal rights and obligations of parties involved in film production. The track aims to help filmmakers protect their projects and establish professional relationships on sound legal foundations.
Mohamed Hammad – Creative Budgeting and Financing
Mohamed Hammad is an Egyptian writer, director, and producer who attracted critical attention with his debut feature, Withered Green, which screened at the Locarno Film Festival and earned him the Best Director Award at Dubai International Film Festival, establishing him as a distinctive voice in Egyptian independent cinema.
Hammad continued his filmmaking career with his second feature, Safe Exit, which had its world premiere in the Panorama section of the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival before winning the Golden El Gouna Star for Best Narrative Film at the ninth edition of El Gouna Film Festival.
He has also served on juries at several film festivals, including Cairo International Film Festival and Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts.
Drawing on his experience in writing, directing, and producing, Hammad will mentor filmmakers in creative budgeting and financing, focusing on balancing production resources with artistic ambitions and helping them make effective use of available resources to serve their cinematic visions.
Khalid Shamis – Film Project Pitching Strategies
Khalid Shamis is a filmmaker, producer, and editor with more than 25 years of experience in the film industry, having worked across a wide range of production environments. His notable works include The Imam and I and The Colonel’s Stray Dogs.
Shamis founded Rough Cut Lab Africa, an initiative dedicated to supporting African filmmakers during the editing process and the development of their films’ narrative structures. He also serves on the board of the Durban FilmMart Institute and the South African Guild of Editors and is a doctoral fellow at the Centre for Humanities Research at the University of the Western Cape.
His mentorship track will focus on strengthening filmmakers’ pitching skills when presenting projects to producers, financiers, and representatives of film institutions. Through developing clear, compelling, and professionally structured pitches, he will help filmmakers communicate the creative and production potential of their projects and improve their prospects of securing support.
Margje de Koning – Festival Strategies and Engagement with European Broadcasters
Margje de Koning is a Dutch producer, documentary filmmaker, and film programming expert who serves as Managing Director of Movies that Matter, having previously held the position of Artistic Director of the organization’s festival since 2019.
She previously worked in documentary programming and commissioning at the Dutch broadcasters IKON and EO and studied at the University of Amsterdam. She has regularly participated in international film festival juries and project pitching sessions and is a member of the European Film Academy and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
Through the program, de Koning will share her expertise in developing international film festival strategies, identifying suitable screening platforms, engaging with European broadcasters, and building professional relationships that can expand films’ visibility and access to new markets and audiences.
About the Cairo Film Connection Mentorship Program
The Cairo Film Connection Mentorship Program is one of the new initiatives introduced during the 12th edition of Cairo Film Connection. It aims to provide selected film projects with specialized professional support that goes beyond conventional industry meetings, fostering sustained relationships between filmmakers and participating experts.
The program follows an intensive, multi-stage structure that begins before the festival, continues throughout its activities, and extends beyond its conclusion. This approach provides participants with opportunities to develop their projects and benefit from professional guidance at different stages of the filmmaking process.
The initiative forms part of a broader vision to develop Cairo Film Connection into a year-round platform through a series of specialized professional activities and programs to be announced progressively. This vision seeks to strengthen ongoing engagement with filmmakers, respond to their evolving needs, and support their professional growth.
The program also complements the initiatives offered by Cairo Industry Days, which aims to connect Arab filmmaking talent with international expertise while creating new opportunities for collaboration, co-production, and knowledge exchange across the film industry.
About Cairo Film Connection
Cairo Film Connection (CFC) is one of the leading professional platforms within Cairo Industry Days. It supports Arab film projects in development and post-production by connecting filmmakers with producers, distributors, film funds, and international film institutions, thereby strengthening opportunities for co-production and helping films reach markets and audiences.
CFC continues to discover emerging filmmaking talent and nurture promising creative voices through professional meetings, awards, and support opportunities provided by partner institutions and organizations, contributing to the development of Arab cinema and enhancing its international presence.
About Cairo International Film Festival
Cairo International Film Festival is held annually under the patronage of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. This year, the festival marks fifty years since its inaugural edition in 1976. As one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in the Arab world and Africa, CIFF is officially accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) and continues to serve as an international platform for cultural exchange and the celebration of cinematic art.
