The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Featured image via moc.gov.eg (image from the 19th Edition of Ismailia International Film Festival)

Egypt is a vast country, housing a large number of hidden gems. Among these hidden gems is the underrated Ismailia governorate. Located in the northeastern part of Egypt, Ismailia is one of Egypt’s Canal Zone governorates and lies between two other Canal Zone governorates: Port Said and Suez. Aside from its rich history, Ismailia is also home to a unique annual event, which has been happening there for 21 years: the Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts.

Ismailia International Film Festival organises debates between audiences, filmmakers, journalists, and professionals. The festival also looks to collaborate with other film festivals in order to provide opportunities for young adults to help them advance their knowledge and experience of cinema in general, and specifically documentaries and short films. Behind this event is The Ministry of Culture, the Egyptian Film Center, and Ismailia Governorate. This year’s festival will start on the 10th of April and run until the 16th, with free entrance to certain documentary, animation, shorts, and fiction narrative films.

For the very first time, the festival’s main topic will be the production process of short films and documentaries; light will be shed on the process as a whole from production to marketing and distribution. Egyptian film critic Essam Zakaria is the chairman of the festival, and he declared that a considerable number of Arab, Egyptian, and international pioneers will be honoured for their contributions. Additionally, two major judging panels, one for short features, one for long narrative or animation films will be present to lessen the pressure on the main judging panel of the festival.

As much as we love Cairo, we are always glad to see the light being shone on other governorates which have a lot to offer, yet do not receive much of the limelight. Catch up with all the details and follow all the updates, live coverage and schedule of the event through their official website.