‘Dragonfly,’ ‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza’ Win Big at Cairo Film Festival as Industry Hub Cairo Film Connection Marks Record Year
The 46th Cairo Intl. Film Festival wrapped Friday in an emotionally charged ceremony that balanced the region’s realities with a showcase of bold new cinema. Held at the Cairo Opera House before a packed crowd of Egyptian, Arab and international filmmakers, the gala awarded its top honor, the Golden Pyramid, to Paul Andrew Williams’ “Dragonfly,” while Tarzan and Arab Nasser’s “Once Upon a Time in Gaza” emerged as the evening’s other major winner.
A Ceremony Marked by SolidarityThe ceremony opened on a stark humanitarian note. Before any awards were announced, a photo of six-year-old Palestinian child Hind Rajab filled the screen, accompanied by audio from her final phone call before being killed in Gaza. Festival president Hussein Fahmi, visibly moved, called it a reminder of cinema’s responsibility. “The power of cinema lies in its ability to document and keep true stories alive,” he said, adding that children lost to conflict “are not just numbers, but real human beings made of flesh and blood.”
CIFF reinforced the message with its closing film, Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” screened immediately following the awards.
Fahmi also announced a new partnership with Qatar Media City, connecting Cairo with the Doha Film Festival, a collaboration he described as “an exciting moment for Arab cinema.”
‘Dragonfly’ Takes Cairo’s Top Honor“Dragonfly,” represented internationally by AMP International, claimed the festival’s highest accolade, with jury president Nuri Bilge Ceylan praising its “profound exploration of solitude, memory, and human resilience” and its “delicate storytelling.”
Stars Andrea Riseborough and Brenda Blethyn shared the best actress award, adding Cairo to a growing streak of recognition after the pair jointly won best performance in an international feature at this year’s Tribeca Festival.
Williams’ drama, set in a British coastal town, follows the evolving relationship between two neighbors, Colleen and Elsie, after Colleen intervenes when the elderly Elsie appears neglected by her caregivers.
‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza’ Scores Three Major WinsThe Nasser brothers’ “Once Upon a Time in Gaza” secured the Silver Pyramid for best director, best actor for Majd Eid, and the best Arab feature film award, reaffirming Cairo’s role as a launch platform for emerging Palestinian cinema.
The film had its world premiere in Un Certain Regard at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where Tarzan and Arab Nasser won the section’s best director prize before its theatrical release helmed by Sophie Dulac Distribution.
Set in 2007 Gaza, the drama follows Yahya, a young student who befriends Osama, a charismatic falafel shop owner. Their side business delivering sandwiches while quietly dealing small amounts of drugs pulls them into a confrontation with a corrupt local officer.
Other Standout HonorsIranian filmmaker Alireza Khatami had a strong showing with “The Things You Kill,” winning both the Naguib Mahfouz best screenplay award in the international competition and the FIPRESCI Prize. The film follows a university professor looking into the suspicious death of his mother, drawing him and his quiet gardener into an increasingly personal search for answers.
The international competition jury awarded Lebanese filmmaker Nicolas Khoury best documentary film for “Souraya Mon Amour,” which revisits artist Souraya Baghdadi’s relationship with her late husband filmmaker Maroun Baghdadi through archival material and new reflections on grief and memory three decades after his death.
In the Horizons of Arab Cinema section, Sara Francis’ “Dead Dog” took top honors, with jury member Nadia Dresti praising the film for “successfully immersing us in a demanding cinematic experience that explored a complex relationship through an audacious aesthetic.”
“One More Show,” directed by Mai Saad and Ahmed Al Danaf, won the Youssef Sherif Rizkallah audience award, with Al Danaf joining the ceremony from Gaza via an iPad held by Saad. Shot under bombardment, the documentary follows the Free Gaza Circus as they perform for displaced children, offering an on-the-ground portrait of artistic resilience during war.
Saudi documentary “Anti-Cinema” from filmmaker Ali Saeed received the special jury prize. The film examines how Saudi cinephiles came of age without theaters, while shedding light on the country’s overlooked pre-1979 film culture.
Egyptian filmmaker Yasser Shafeiy was awarded with a best screenplay nod in the category for his debut feature “Complaint No. 713317.” The drama centers on a retired couple navigating a simple appliance repair that slowly exposes the quiet pressures and small injustices shaping their daily lives.
Short film awards went to Abdellah Taïa’s “Cairo Streets” (Youssef Chahine Award for best short film) and Lynn El Safah’s “Two Tetas” (best Arab short).
Industry: Cairo Film Connection Marks Record EditionWhile the awards grabbed the spotlight, much of the week’s industry momentum ran through the Cairo Film Connection, which continued its rise as one of the region’s most active pitching and financing hubs. Under director Rodrigo Brum, the platform awarded more than $200,000 in cash and in-kind support, drawing partners from Europe, Africa and the Gulf. Brum framed the mission simply: “Every project here expands the cinematic map of the Arab world.”
Industry prizes went to a broad slate of titles, with slots awarded by Durban Film Mart (“Goodbye Party”), Medimed (“I Have Other Friends”), Malmö Arab Film Festival (“Al Madeenah 2008”) and the Amman International Film Festival (“Where Do I Belong”). Rough Cut Lab Africa selected “Asphalt” for its main prize and gave a special mention to “Revolutionaries Never Die.”
Technical and post-production support from Cinetech, Ambient Light, Nu’Ta, DTS, I Sound and Shift Studios was distributed widely across the lineup, reflecting CFC’s push to broaden access.
Cash awards came from Special Touch, AH Media, Pathé Touch, Rise Studios, Lagoonie, ART, Iraqi Cinema, and the Red Sea Intl. Film Festival, which split its top prize between two projects.
The forum’s top honors went to:Best project in development: “The Side Effects of Trusting Life”
Best project in post-production: “Revolutionaries Never Die”
CFC was bolstered this year by a packed Cairo Industry Days program: 22 market booths, 55 ProMeet sessions and 380 industry participants, underscoring Cairo’s ascent as a regional co-production hub.
With 153 films from 55 countries, artistic director Mohamed Tarek shaped an edition that leaned into intimate international titles, new Arab voices, and a reinforced industry market. A steady turnout and expanded programming suggested increased momentum for the festival as it continues to reassert its place in the region’s cultural landscape.
A full list of winners at the 46th Cairo Intl. Film Festival:
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONGolden Pyramid for best film“Dragonfly,” Paul Andrew Williams
Silver Pyramid for best director“Once Upon a Time in Gaza,” Tarzan & Arab Nasser
Bronze Pyramid special jury prize“As We Breathe,” Seyhmus Altun
Best actorMajd Eid, “Once Upon a Time in Gaza”
Best actress (shared)Andrea Riseborough and Brenda Blethyn, “Dragonfly”
Naguib Mahfouz Award for best screenplay“The Things You Kill,” Alireza Khatami
Henri Barakat Award for best artistic contribution (cinematography)Mathieu Giombini, “Sand City”
Documentary film award“Souraya Mon Amour,” Nicolas Khoury
Youssef Sherif Rizkallah audience award“One More Show,” Mai Saad & Ahmed Al Danaf
HORIZONS OF ARAB CINEMA COMPETITIONSaad Eddine Wahba best Arab film award“Dead Dog,” Sarah Francis
Salah Abu Seif special jury prize“Anti-Cinema,” Ali Saeed
Best screenplayYasser Shafiey, “Complaint No. 713317”
Best acting awardAfef Ben Mahmoud, “Round 13”
INTERNATIONAL CRITICS’ WEEKShadi Abdel Salam Award for best film“Habibi Hussein,” Alex Bakri
Fathi Farag Special jury prize“In My Parents House,” Tim Ellrich
Special mention“The Botanist,” Jing Yi
SHORT FILM COMPETITIONYoussef Chahine award for best short film“Cairo Streets,” Abdellah Taïa
Best Arab short film“Two Tetas,” Lynn El Safah
Special jury prize“A Very Straight Neck,” Neo Sora
FIPRESCI AWARD“The Things You Kill,” Alireza Khatami
BEST ARAB FEATURE FILM (Watch It Award)“Once Upon a Time in Gaza,” Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Special mention“Flana,” Zahraa Ghandour
NETPAC AWARD Best Asian Film“The Botanist,” Jing Yi
A Ceremony Marked by SolidarityThe ceremony opened on a stark humanitarian note. Before any awards were announced, a photo of six-year-old Palestinian child Hind Rajab filled the screen, accompanied by audio from her final phone call before being killed in Gaza. Festival president Hussein Fahmi, visibly moved, called it a reminder of cinema’s responsibility. “The power of cinema lies in its ability to document and keep true stories alive,” he said, adding that children lost to conflict “are not just numbers, but real human beings made of flesh and blood.”
CIFF reinforced the message with its closing film, Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” screened immediately following the awards.
Fahmi also announced a new partnership with Qatar Media City, connecting Cairo with the Doha Film Festival, a collaboration he described as “an exciting moment for Arab cinema.”
‘Dragonfly’ Takes Cairo’s Top Honor“Dragonfly,” represented internationally by AMP International, claimed the festival’s highest accolade, with jury president Nuri Bilge Ceylan praising its “profound exploration of solitude, memory, and human resilience” and its “delicate storytelling.”
Stars Andrea Riseborough and Brenda Blethyn shared the best actress award, adding Cairo to a growing streak of recognition after the pair jointly won best performance in an international feature at this year’s Tribeca Festival.
Williams’ drama, set in a British coastal town, follows the evolving relationship between two neighbors, Colleen and Elsie, after Colleen intervenes when the elderly Elsie appears neglected by her caregivers.
‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza’ Scores Three Major WinsThe Nasser brothers’ “Once Upon a Time in Gaza” secured the Silver Pyramid for best director, best actor for Majd Eid, and the best Arab feature film award, reaffirming Cairo’s role as a launch platform for emerging Palestinian cinema.
The film had its world premiere in Un Certain Regard at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where Tarzan and Arab Nasser won the section’s best director prize before its theatrical release helmed by Sophie Dulac Distribution.
Set in 2007 Gaza, the drama follows Yahya, a young student who befriends Osama, a charismatic falafel shop owner. Their side business delivering sandwiches while quietly dealing small amounts of drugs pulls them into a confrontation with a corrupt local officer.
Other Standout HonorsIranian filmmaker Alireza Khatami had a strong showing with “The Things You Kill,” winning both the Naguib Mahfouz best screenplay award in the international competition and the FIPRESCI Prize. The film follows a university professor looking into the suspicious death of his mother, drawing him and his quiet gardener into an increasingly personal search for answers.
The international competition jury awarded Lebanese filmmaker Nicolas Khoury best documentary film for “Souraya Mon Amour,” which revisits artist Souraya Baghdadi’s relationship with her late husband filmmaker Maroun Baghdadi through archival material and new reflections on grief and memory three decades after his death.
In the Horizons of Arab Cinema section, Sara Francis’ “Dead Dog” took top honors, with jury member Nadia Dresti praising the film for “successfully immersing us in a demanding cinematic experience that explored a complex relationship through an audacious aesthetic.”
“One More Show,” directed by Mai Saad and Ahmed Al Danaf, won the Youssef Sherif Rizkallah audience award, with Al Danaf joining the ceremony from Gaza via an iPad held by Saad. Shot under bombardment, the documentary follows the Free Gaza Circus as they perform for displaced children, offering an on-the-ground portrait of artistic resilience during war.
Saudi documentary “Anti-Cinema” from filmmaker Ali Saeed received the special jury prize. The film examines how Saudi cinephiles came of age without theaters, while shedding light on the country’s overlooked pre-1979 film culture.
Egyptian filmmaker Yasser Shafeiy was awarded with a best screenplay nod in the category for his debut feature “Complaint No. 713317.” The drama centers on a retired couple navigating a simple appliance repair that slowly exposes the quiet pressures and small injustices shaping their daily lives.
Short film awards went to Abdellah Taïa’s “Cairo Streets” (Youssef Chahine Award for best short film) and Lynn El Safah’s “Two Tetas” (best Arab short).
Industry: Cairo Film Connection Marks Record EditionWhile the awards grabbed the spotlight, much of the week’s industry momentum ran through the Cairo Film Connection, which continued its rise as one of the region’s most active pitching and financing hubs. Under director Rodrigo Brum, the platform awarded more than $200,000 in cash and in-kind support, drawing partners from Europe, Africa and the Gulf. Brum framed the mission simply: “Every project here expands the cinematic map of the Arab world.”
Industry prizes went to a broad slate of titles, with slots awarded by Durban Film Mart (“Goodbye Party”), Medimed (“I Have Other Friends”), Malmö Arab Film Festival (“Al Madeenah 2008”) and the Amman International Film Festival (“Where Do I Belong”). Rough Cut Lab Africa selected “Asphalt” for its main prize and gave a special mention to “Revolutionaries Never Die.”
Technical and post-production support from Cinetech, Ambient Light, Nu’Ta, DTS, I Sound and Shift Studios was distributed widely across the lineup, reflecting CFC’s push to broaden access.
Cash awards came from Special Touch, AH Media, Pathé Touch, Rise Studios, Lagoonie, ART, Iraqi Cinema, and the Red Sea Intl. Film Festival, which split its top prize between two projects.
The forum’s top honors went to:Best project in development: “The Side Effects of Trusting Life”
Best project in post-production: “Revolutionaries Never Die”
CFC was bolstered this year by a packed Cairo Industry Days program: 22 market booths, 55 ProMeet sessions and 380 industry participants, underscoring Cairo’s ascent as a regional co-production hub.
With 153 films from 55 countries, artistic director Mohamed Tarek shaped an edition that leaned into intimate international titles, new Arab voices, and a reinforced industry market. A steady turnout and expanded programming suggested increased momentum for the festival as it continues to reassert its place in the region’s cultural landscape.
A full list of winners at the 46th Cairo Intl. Film Festival:
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONGolden Pyramid for best film“Dragonfly,” Paul Andrew Williams
Silver Pyramid for best director“Once Upon a Time in Gaza,” Tarzan & Arab Nasser
Bronze Pyramid special jury prize“As We Breathe,” Seyhmus Altun
Best actorMajd Eid, “Once Upon a Time in Gaza”
Best actress (shared)Andrea Riseborough and Brenda Blethyn, “Dragonfly”
Naguib Mahfouz Award for best screenplay“The Things You Kill,” Alireza Khatami
Henri Barakat Award for best artistic contribution (cinematography)Mathieu Giombini, “Sand City”
Documentary film award“Souraya Mon Amour,” Nicolas Khoury
Youssef Sherif Rizkallah audience award“One More Show,” Mai Saad & Ahmed Al Danaf
HORIZONS OF ARAB CINEMA COMPETITIONSaad Eddine Wahba best Arab film award“Dead Dog,” Sarah Francis
Salah Abu Seif special jury prize“Anti-Cinema,” Ali Saeed
Best screenplayYasser Shafiey, “Complaint No. 713317”
Best acting awardAfef Ben Mahmoud, “Round 13”
INTERNATIONAL CRITICS’ WEEKShadi Abdel Salam Award for best film“Habibi Hussein,” Alex Bakri
Fathi Farag Special jury prize“In My Parents House,” Tim Ellrich
Special mention“The Botanist,” Jing Yi
SHORT FILM COMPETITIONYoussef Chahine award for best short film“Cairo Streets,” Abdellah Taïa
Best Arab short film“Two Tetas,” Lynn El Safah
Special jury prize“A Very Straight Neck,” Neo Sora
FIPRESCI AWARD“The Things You Kill,” Alireza Khatami
BEST ARAB FEATURE FILM (Watch It Award)“Once Upon a Time in Gaza,” Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Special mention“Flana,” Zahraa Ghandour
NETPAC AWARD Best Asian Film“The Botanist,” Jing Yi