Cairo Film Festival 2026 Picks Laila Marrakchi's Strawberries

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Moroccan director Laila Marrakchi's Strawberries is among the 12 films competing for the Golden Pyramid at the 47th Cairo International Film Festival, which runs from November 11 to 20, 2026. According to Cineuropa, the Morocco, France, Spain and Belgium co-production previously screened in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. A 145-film programme Cineuropa reports that this year's festival will screen 145 films from 64 countries. The line-up is made up of 109 fiction features, 17 documentaries and 29 shorts. The programme includes 17 world premieres, five international premieres and 87 premieres for the Middle East and North Africa region. Those numbers give the festival a strong claim to fresh work, especially for regional audiences who will see many of the films for the first time. The competition Twelve titles compete for the Golden Pyramid, the festival's top prize. Strawberries is one of the most high-profile, having come to Cairo after its Cannes selection. Its presence also gives North African cinema a prominent place in an Egyptian competition. Artistic director Mohammed Tarek told Cineuropa that the festival's focus is "on the new generations", reflecting a selection that gives space to emerging filmmakers as well as established names. Honorary awards The festival will present honorary awards to Italian director Matteo Garrone, Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako, Egyptian cinematographer Saeed Shimi and Egyptian screenwriter Medhat El Adl, according to Cineuropa. Egyptian actor Asser Yassin will receive the Faten Hamama Excellence Award. That list spans Europe, West Africa and Egypt, and it mixes directors, a cinematographer, a screenwriter and an actor. It reflects the festival's aim to celebrate different parts of the filmmaking process, not just the people in front of the camera. New sections Cineuropa reports two notable additions. A new Cairo Kids section is aimed at younger audiences, and an XR programme will showcase extended-reality work. Both point to a festival trying to widen its audience and engage with new forms of screen storytelling. Laila Marrakchi in Cairo Marrakchi is one of Morocco's best-known directors, and Strawberries brings her to one of the Arab world's oldest film festivals. A Cannes selection followed by a Cairo competition slot shows the film's path through the international festival circuit, with the Egyptian festival giving it a major regional platform. The image above shows her at a screening of her earlier film Rock the Casbah. Cairo and El Gouna Egypt's festival calendar is busy this autumn. The El Gouna Film Festival on the Red Sea runs from October 15 to 23, a few weeks before Cairo opens. Together they give Egyptian audiences and the regional industry two major showcases in quick succession. Explore more on our film and movies pages. Why it matters Cairo's size, with 145 films from 64 countries, makes it one of the most important showcases for Arab and African cinema. A competition that includes a Cannes-selected Moroccan film, honorary awards for a Mauritanian master and a new focus on young audiences shows a festival trying to balance prestige with renewal. Readers can also follow international film news in our film section and our coverage of the 99th Oscars race. Key facts Festival: 47th Cairo International Film Festival Dates: November 11–20, 2026 Programme: 145 films from 64 countries: 109 fiction features, 17 documentaries, 29 shorts Premieres: 17 world, five international and 87 MENA premieres Competition: 12 films for the Golden Pyramid, including Strawberries Honorary awards: Matteo Garrone, Abderrahmane Sissako, Saeed Shimi, Medhat El Adl Faten Hamama Excellence Award: Asser Yassin New: Cairo Kids section and an XR programme For Moroccan cinema, a Golden Pyramid slot in Cairo extends the international run that began at Cannes. For the festival, the large share of regional premieres means Cairo audiences will see many of these films first, which strengthens its role as a launch pad for Arab cinema. What's next The 47th Cairo International Film Festival opens on November 11 and closes on November 20, when the Golden Pyramid winner will be announced. Screening schedules, juries and further guests are expected to be confirmed in the weeks before opening night. Sources: Cineuropa