Who are the award winners of CIFF?

CAIRO – 29 November 2019: The 41st edition of Cairo International Film Festival concluded its events on Friday, November 29.

“I’m No Longer Here,” by young Mexican director Fernando Frias, was the big winner at the Festival. The movie is a rich drama about immigration and identity.

“I’m No Longer Here,” grabbed CIFF top prize which is the Golden Pyramid, for best film. It also took acting honors for Juan Daniel Garcia Trevino.

The Cairo jury, headed by Oscar-winning U.S. writer-director Stephen Gaghan awarded the Silver Pyramid to “Ghost Tropic” by Belgian helmer Bas Devos.

Two films shared the Bronze Pyramid for best first or second work: Chinese directorial duo Zhang Chong and Zhang Bo’s “The Fourth Wall,” and Czech director Michal Hogenauer’s stylish psychological thriller, “A Certain Kind of Silence.”

The screenplay award went to Palestinian writer-director Najwa Najjat for her divorce amid diaspora drama “Between Heaven and Earth,” which world-premiered in the international competition section.

The prize for best actress went to Judy Ann Santos for her role as the anguished mother of a sick child in melodrama “Mindanao,” the latest from prolific Filipino director Brillante Mendoza. “Mindanao” also scored the prize for best artistic contribution.

Egyptian director Marianne Khoury’s dicumentary“Let’s Talk,” a doc interweaving archive material with cinematic conversations between four women from different generations in the family of late great Egyptian master Youssef Chahine, won the Youssef Sherif Rizkallah (The audience award) voted by festival goers.

The big winner in Cairo’s separate Arab competition strand was Tunisian director Mahdi Barsaoui’s debut feature, “A Son”.

“A Son” received the Salah Abou Seif Special Jury award for Best Arab Film prize and the Special Jury Award. Sami Bouajila, won best actor in the Horizons section.

Iraqi director Mohanad Hayal’s drama “Haifa Street,” scored two prizes: the award for best Arab director and acting honors for Ali Thamer, who plays a sniper.

Documentary “Beirut Terminus” by Elie Kamal won the award for nonfiction film.

The Cinema of Tomorrow short film competition awards:

A special mention was given to the Egyptian movie “ The Trap””

A special mention was given to the Lebanese movie “Tamas”

‘’The Marvellous Misadventures of the Stone Lady’’ short movie was given a special mention

‘’Ambience’’ short movie won Youssef Chahine award for best movie

International Film Critic’s week awards:

The Fathy Farag award for best artistic contribution goes to “ Arrest” movie.

Shady Abdel Salam award for best film goes to “The Land of Ashes”.