Fatih Akin’s The Cut will open the 36th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), which is scheduled to run November 9-18.

Co-written by Mardik Martin, the historical drama about the Armenian genocide in 1915 premiered in competition at this year’s Venice film festival. It was expected to premiere in Cannes, but Akin pulled it from the festival citing “personal reasons”. The film stars Tahar Rahim, Sevan Stephan and Shubham Saraf.

CIFF president Samir Farid also announced that the festival will honour Egyptian actress Nadia Loutfy and world-renowned Moroccan film critic Noureddine Sail with the Naguib Mahfouz Lifetime Achievement Award (The Memorial Golden Pyramid).

Farid, a renowned Egyptian critic, took the helm of the revitalised festival earlier this year. Egyptian producer Mohamed Samir has also joined CIFF as creative director.

CIFF was cancelled outright in 2011 and 2013, due to Egypt’s political turmoil, although it managed a shaky edition in 2012. It is returning this year with a new team and November time slot, moving from its usual timing in early December.

Topics