In a move that reinforces its leadership and commitment to pushing the boundaries of cinematic creativity, Cairo International Film Festival announces the launch of a new section called “CAIRO’S XR” in its 46th edition, scheduled to take place from November 12 to 21, 2025. This is the first-ever section dedicated to new media technologies in the history of the festival. It aims to introduce a fresh and distinctive approach to cinematic storytelling, offering audiences in the region a more interactive and engaging experience.
CAIRO’S XR provides an opportunity for artists, creators, and technologists to showcase works that employ cutting-edge technologies beyond traditional screen-based presentations. The program leverages modern technology to craft cinematic experiences in which viewers can feel, engage, and interact with the story in multiple ways.
The section includes experiences such as expansive virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI-driven narratives, and interactive artworks that allow the audience to become part of the story rather than merely watch it.
Mohamed Tarek, Artistic Director of the Cairo International Film Festival, said:
“CAIRO’S XR seeks to deliver a different cinematic experience by integrating new media into the fabric of cinematic storytelling. Instead of presenting stories in the conventional way on a fixed screen, XR technology transforms the story into a living experience that viewers can enter, explore, interact with, and influence its course of events. This reflects the festival’s commitment to supporting the future of cinema.”
The program is grounded in the belief that technology is not an end in itself, but a tool to unlock deeper emotional, intellectual, and spatial dimensions in storytelling. Whether it’s walking through a memory in VR, interacting with an AI-driven character, or participating in a spatial narrative installation, the projects selected for CAIRO’S XR are meant to expand the language of cinema.
By bridging film, design, game engines, AI, spatial computing, and interactive environments, this program invites creators to push boundaries—offering a new lens through which cinema can evolve while still preserving its core artistic and emotional values.
The program is now accepting submissions for works that primarily utilize Extended Reality (XR) and related immersive formats, including:
● Virtual Reality (VR) Experiences
● Augmented Reality (AR) & Mixed Reality (MR) Projects
● Interactive Immersive Installations
● AI-Driven Narratives
● Gamified Experiences & Games
Key Submission Dates:
● Application Deadline: August 30, 2025
● The projects should be submitted through the following link:
Selected works will premiere at CIFF 2025, offering artists international exposure, networking opportunities with top industry professionals, and a chance to shape the future of storytelling from the heart of the Arab world.
