Cairo International Film Festival 2023 dates revealed

The event is set to return in November at the Egyptian capital's Opera House

Almost 100 films were screened at last year's event. AFP

The dates for the 45th Cairo International Film Festival have been announced.

The event, more commonly known as CIFF, will run from November 15 to 24 and, like every year, it will be headquartered in Cairo’s Opera House in the Zamalek district, with screenings and activities taking place at various other cultural venues across the city.

Actor Hussein Fahmy, who assumed the role of festival president last year after four consecutive years of film producer Mohamed Hefzy at the helm, will return this year.

Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from Cairo International Film Festival 2022

Veteran Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy and Cairo International Film Festival president and Egyptian film producer Mohamed Hefzy attend the opening of the 44th CIFF, in Cairo on November 13, 2022. All photos: AFP

Egyptian actress Nahed Elsebai.

Tunisian actress Aicha Ben Ahmed.

Egyptian actor Nidal El Shafei.

Veteran Egyptian actress Laila Eloui.

Veteran Egyptian actress Nabila Ebeid.

Veteran Egyptian actor Mustafa Fahmi.

Egyptian Actress Sarrah Abdelrahman.

Egyptian actor Bassem Samra.

Egyptian actress Heba Magdi.

Attendees gather on the red carpet.

Veteran Egyptian actress Sawsan Badr.

Egyptian actress and film producer Bushra Rozza.

Egyptian actress Riham Abdel Ghafour.

Veteran Egyptian actor Mahmoud Hemida.

Tunisian actress Dorra Zarrouk.

Egyptian actress Salma Abu Deif.

Veteran Egyptian actress and signer Yousra.

Egyptian actor Mohamed Farrag with a guest.

Veteran Egyptian actress Samira Abdelaziz.

Egyptian actor Sherif Moneer.

Egyptian actress Tara Emad.

Each year, CIFF hosts some of the world’s top filmmakers to discuss their work and share their expertise with Egypt's aspiring cinematic storytellers.

At last year's festival, Hungarian auteur Bella Tarr and Egyptian actress Lebleba were awarded the Golden Pyramid Appreciation awards, the festival's lifetime achievement honour.

Actors, directors and celebrities from 52 different countries took part in last year's festival, walking the red carpet during the event's eight-day run. Of the 97 films to participate, 58 were from the Mena region. Six Egyptian films took part, including a feature narrative and feature documentary, and four shorts led by up-and-coming regional directors.

CIFF is the only international competitive feature film festival in the Arab World and Africa that is recognised by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, an international organisation in charge of regulating the world’s most renowned film festivals.