Cairo International Film Festival saw big wins dedicated to international as well as regional talent. The 43rd edition of the ~iconic~ event crowned multiple titleholders for best actress, best Arab film, best actor and so much more.
Complete list of all the Cairo Film Festival 2021 winners:
Henry Barakat Award For Best Artistic Contribution
The award was given to Spanish cinematographer José Ángel Alayón for the film They Carry Death, directed by Helena Girón and Samuel M. Delgado.
Best Actress Award
Swamy Rotolo took home the award for the role in the Italian film A Chiara. The film’s world premiere was at Cannes Film Festival in early July.
Best Actor Award
Egyptian actor Mohamed Mamdouh won for his performance in Abu Saddam. Believe it or not, this was his debut lead role.
Naguib Mahfouz Award For Best Screenplay
Won by Péter Kerekes and Ivan Ostrochovský for the Slovak drama film 107 Mothers, the film also premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival.
The Bronze Pyramid Award For Best First or Second Feature of a Director
The Bronze Pyramid Award was given to Hong Seong-eun for the South Korean drama film Aloners.
The Silver Pyramid Special Jury Award For Best Director
Director Laura Samani won for her renowned direction in the movie Small Body at the Cairo Film Festival 2021.
The Golden Pyramid Award for Best Film
For CIFF’s renowned award category, Joaquin del Paso’s The Hole in the Fence won and is the Mexican director’s second project following Panamerican Machinery.
International Short Film Competition Awards
Youssef Chahine Award For Best Short Film
Lotfi Achour’s 14-minute Blind Spot film was awarded for the best short film. The documentary animation revolves around the life under Ben Ali’s dictatorship in Tunisia.
Special Jury Award
The award was given to the Egyptian documentary film It’s Nothing Nagy, Just hang up! by Youhanna Nagy.
The Horizons of Arab Cinema Competition Awards
Saad Eldin Wahba Award For Best Film Awarded for the Directors
For their marvellous work in the film Memory Box, Lebanese filmmakers Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige took the title for the award category.
Salah Abu Seif Special Jury Award
The film Fiasco features the director, Nicolas Khoury, and his life in a diary. This film takes you through a rollercoaster of real-life emotions so be ready for it.
Best Non-fiction Film Award
Hala Gala’s From Cairo has won best film in the non-fiction category. The Egyptian film is about two young women, Heba and Aya, and their life in Cairo.
Best Acting Performance Award
Afef Ben Mahmoud’s brilliant performance in Streams won her the prestigious award.
Special Mention
Tunisia’s A Second Life by Anis Lassoued nabbed the special mention for the award ceremony.
International Critics’ Week Competition Awards
Shadi Abdel Salam Award For Best Film
Aaanddd the award goes to Syrian filmmaker Ameer Fakher Eldin for his direction of The Stranger.
Fathy Farag Special Jury Award
Hungarian director Hajni Kis wins for the film Wild Roots.
Special Mention
Won by Mexican actress Arcelia Ramírez for her captivating performance in the Spanish film La Civil.
Best Arab Film Award
The Palestinian drama The Stranger, produced by Tony Copti, Jiries Copti, Dorothe Beinemeier, was the esteemed winner of the best film award of 2021.
Special Mention
The Arabic-French film Fiasco by director Nicolas Khoury takes another big recognition at the Cairo Film Festival 2021.
FIPRESCI Award
The category winner was Tomorrow by Dhafer L’Abidine. Tunisia is taking back some *major* wins this year, aren’t they?
Audience Award
The people chose their award winner Daughters Of Abdel Rahman by Zaid Abu Hamdan.
Round of applause for the Cairo Film Festival 2021 winners: