Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) has announced the opening of submissions for the 11th edition of the Cairo Film Connection, part of the festival’s 46th edition, scheduled to take place from November 12 to 21, 2025. Applications will be accepted from May 7 through August 1, 2025, via the festival’s official website: www.ciff.org.eg.
Cairo Film Connection is a professional platform dedicated to supporting feature-length narrative and documentary projects from the Arab world, in both development and post-production stages. It aims to empower Arab filmmakers by providing financial grants, production services, and valuable opportunities to connect with key producers, funders, and distributors from across the globe.
Renowned actor Hussein Fahmy, President of CIFF, commented:
« At CIFF, we strongly believe that supporting filmmakers from the region is fundamental to the growth of Arab cinema. Cairo Film Connection has become a true platform for launching promising projects. We take pride in what it has achieved over the years in discovering new talents and enhancing Arab cinema’s presence on the global stage. »
Mohamed Tarek, the festival’s Artistic Director, added:
« Each edition, we strive to offer meaningful and diversified support to projects that stand out for their boldness and artistic integrity. The Cairo Film Connection is more than just a pitching platform—it is a vibrant space for exchange and creative dialogue between filmmakers, funders, and programmers from around the world. »
In recent years, numerous projects supported by Cairo Film Connection have gone on to represent Arab cinema at major international festivals. Notable examples include:
« Four Daughters » by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania,
« Inshallah a Boy » by Jordanian director Amjad Al-Rasheed,
« Goodbye Julia » by Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani,
and « The Brink of Dreams » by Egyptian director Namir Abdel Messeeh.
Mohamed Sayed Abdel Rahim, Head of Cairo Industry Days, stated:
« Over the past ten years, the Cairo Film Connection has solidified its position as one of the most vital development platforms in the Arab region—not only because of the awards and funding it offers, but also because of the caliber of films it helps bring to life. »
The previous edition in November 2024 hosted 18 projects from 13 Arab countries, with participants receiving 31 awards exceeding $220,000 in combined value, including cash prizes and in-kind services offered by local and international production and distribution partners.
Eligible projects must be feature-length (narrative or documentary) films in either the development or post-production phase, submitted by filmmakers from Arab countries. The director must be of Arab nationality or origin.
Eligibility Criteria:
• The director must be of Arab nationality or origin.
• The submitted project must be a feature-length narrative or documentary film in development or post-production.
• The director must have previously completed at least one film (short or feature).
Cairo Film Connection continues to serve as a vital gateway for Arab filmmakers seeking co-productions and international exposure, playing a key role in advancing Arab cinema’s global presence with each new edition.
About CIFF:
Established in 1976, Cairo International Film Festival is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the Arab world and Africa. It holds Category A status, the only one in the Arab region and the African continent to be officially recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).
For submissions and more information, please visit: www.ciff.org.eg
