May 18, 2025
For Immediate Release
The Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF)
has announced that its 15th edition, scheduled for the last week of March 2026,
will be held under the theme “Youssef Chahine… An Egyptian Tale”, in
celebration of the centenary of legendary Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine
(1926–2026), one of the most influential figures in Arab and world cinema.
Festival President, screenwriter Sayed
Fouad, confirmed that this edition will feature a special program dedicated
to Chahine, including the publication of a bilingual (Arabic-French)
documentary book about his life, films, and cinematic legacy. The program will
also include a major video art exhibition of his film posters and rare
photographs from his life and work as an actor. In addition, four of Chahine’s
most iconic, recently restored films will be screened—restored by Misr
International Films as part of a project to revive his cinematic oeuvre.
The festival will also organize
parallel screenings of these films in various African countries throughout
2026, along with special tributes to individuals who collaborated with Chahine
in his films.
Festival Director Azza
Elhosseiny announced a revamped edition of the “Special Focus” program,
which will spotlight South African cinema this year in recognition of
its rich history and evolving industry. The program will feature four films
that mark key milestones in the development of South African cinema, alongside
a reprint of a seminal book on the topic.
Elhosseiny also announced a
special tribute to the late Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé (April 21,
1940 – February 19, 2025), whose works are milestones in African cinema
history. Cissé had a close relationship with the Luxor Festival, where he had
previously been honored and had several of his films screened during his
lifetime. A number of his films won awards at prestigious international
festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival. On this occasion, the festival
will publish a special bulletin about his life and work.
Since its establishment in 2011,
the Luxor African Film Festival has played a pivotal role in strengthening
cultural ties between Egypt and African nations, and in supporting African
cinema through specialized screenings, curated programs, and institutional
partnerships.
The festival is organized by the Independent Artists Youth Foundation, with honorary president actor Mahmoud Hemida, and producer-distributor Gaby Khoury serving as head of the festival’s high committee. It is held in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministries of Culture, Tourism & Antiquities, Foreign Affairs, and Youth & Sports, and is sponsored by the National Bank of Egypt, the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, Kemet for Peace and Knowledge, Afreximbank, the Syndicate of Cinematic Professions, and Luxor Governorate.
