The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) announced the appointment of the renowned Bosnian director Danis Tanović as the president of the Official Competition Jury for its 45th edition, scheduled between November 15 and 24.
This choice was made to “bring in prominent figures from the global film industry” to take part in the festival, and to foster CIFF as a platform for expertise exchange among emerging Egyptian, Arab, and international filmmakers participating in the event, according to a statement issued by CIFF on Sunday.
“We are delighted to host esteemed international names at the 45th Cairo Film Festival. Danis Tanović is one of the most important cinema figures in the world, and his works won many awards at prestigious festivals,” Festival President Hussein Fahmy said.
Danis Tanović is one of the best directors and screenwriters in Eastern Europe and the world. Among his renowned works is “No Man’s Land,” which won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Screenplay at Cannes in 2001. He also directed films such as “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker” and “Death in Sarajevo,” which won the Silver Bear – Grand Jury Prize at the Berlinale in 2016. Tanović is the only director from Bosnia and Herzegovina to win an Academy Award.
Amir Ramsis, director of CIFF, said: “I am proud to have Danis Tanović as the president of the International Jury at the Festival in its 45th edition. I am delighted that our festival always gives its audience the opportunity to engage with names that have made the history of cinema.”
The upcoming edition of the Egyptian festival celebrates short films given their growing audience, and the CIFF’s selection to qualify one film for the Oscars. It also announced that it’s awarding a money prize of $5,000 to the best short Arabic film partaking in the official competition, and decided to dedicate a new category to the promising Egyptian filmmakers- a non-competitive segment that showcases new work experiences of emerging directors.
The 45th edition of CIFF will honor esteemed director Yousry Nasrallah with the Golden Pyramid Award for his outstanding journey, and Actor Ahmed Ezz with the Faten Hamama Award for Excellence.
The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) is one of the finest festivals in the Arab world and Africa, and the only festival in the region registered in category A of the International Federation of Producers in Prasles, France, FIAPF.
