The Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) has announced the opening of submissions for its 15th edition, scheduled from March 30 to April 5, 2026, in Luxor, southern Egypt. Established by screenwriter Sayed Fouad, the festival aims to celebrate African cinema’s diverse talents. It provides a platform for emerging and established filmmakers from across the continent and the diaspora.
The festival is now accepting entries in four main competition categories. The Long Films Competition is open to narrative, documentary, and animated features over 60 minutes, while the Short Films Competition focuses on shorter works in these same categories. Both competitions are exclusively available to African directors. Furthermore, the Diaspora Films Competition welcomes submissions from African filmmakers based abroad who present narratives reflecting the African experience from a global viewpoint. Additionally, the Youth Films Competition invites young filmmakers from Qena and Luxor.
Azza El Hosseiny, Founder and Director of LAFF, expressed, “Months before the festival, we will host a workshop focusing on low-budget short filmmaking aimed at youth in Luxor and Qena. We aim to enhance and integrate their skills into the Egyptian and African film scene. This initiative comprises workshops and an exclusive competition for film submissions from Luxor and Qena, with jury members drawn from these areas.”
This edition of LAFF will also honour the late filmmaker Youssef Chahine, coinciding with the centenary of his birth. The theme “Youssef Chahine… An Egyptian Story” will highlight his influential role in Egyptian and global cinema.
Filmmakers can submit their works via the festival’s official website from August 20, 2025, to November 25, 2025. Eligible films must have been produced in 2025 and should not have been previously screened in Egypt.
Prominent Egyptian actor Mahmoud Hemida has been appointed the Honorary President for this 15th edition, highlighting the festival’s significance in the cultural arena. LAFF is organised by the Independent Shabab Foundation for Support and Development in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministries of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Youth and Sports, and Foreign Affairs, along with support from Luxor Governorate.
