The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) has recently entered into a formal collaboration with China Media Group. The agreement aims to bolster cooperation in the field of cinema, encompassing joint content creation, exchange of artistic and cultural expertise, and collaboration among professional guests, films, and jury members. This initiative underlines CIFF’s dedication to broadening its role as an inclusive platform for interaction with esteemed global institutions.
The protocol was signed by Hussein Fahmy, President of CIFF, Xin Hi Xiong, Chinese Minister and member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and President of China Media Group’s Film and Cinema Sector.
The agreement strives to establish a framework for reciprocal visits, organizing cinema symposia, and field trips between the two countries. It also involves selecting films for exhibitions, competitions, and festivals, particularly focusing on works by emerging directors.
Moreover, the protocol aims to facilitate the nomination and invitation of prominent cinema professionals as jury members and special guests at festivals hosted by both sides. It also calls for the screening of selected films from each country.
Hussein Fahmy expressed that this protocol signifies a significant stride in CIFF’s international cooperation efforts, facilitating the exchange of expertise and engagement with diverse media and cinematic entities from various cultures, notably China.
Essam Zakarea, CIFF Director and film critic, noted that the collaboration presents an opportunity for CIFF to gain visibility within China Media Group, a prominent global media conglomerate encompassing 51 TV stations and a dedicated Film and Cinema Sector. This partnership will enable collaboration between distinguished filmmakers and the festival, paving the way for the exchange and showcasing of works from Cairo at cinema festivals in China.
Zakarea emphasized the importance of exchanging expertise for the festival industry’s growth, unifying two of the most established entities in the global cinema industry—Egypt and China.
This partnership also coincides with the Egyptian-Chinese Year of Friendship, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy and the Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism. The signing ceremony was attended by key figures, including Sherif Fathi, Minister of Antiquities and Tourism; Hussein Zein, Chairman of the National Media Authority; Liao Liqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt; Omar Al-Qadi, head of the Tourism Promotion Authority, and Naila Farouk, head of Egyptian Television.
