Cairo International Women’s Film Festival marks ten years

Annual festival spotlights films from Switzerland and Denmark.

The Cairo International Women’s Film Festival, which screens international and local films on important social, cultural and political issues, celebrates its tenth year and runs from 4-9 March – either side of Women's Day.

This year the festival's main International section features 14 recent films: The Long Night of Francisco Sanctis (Argentina), 4 Kings (Germany), Gulistan, Land of Roses (Germany, Canada), A Halt (Finland), After (Ukraine, Iran), Cantonese Rice (France), Chopping Onions (US), The Fullness of Time (Belgium, France), Jonas and the Sea and Ninnoc (Netherlands), Los Pestinos De Mama (Spain), Ombre della Sera (Italy), and The Seasons in Quincy: Four Portraits of John Berger (UK).

The 2017 festival also has a special focus on films from Switzerland, with a masterclass by Swiss filmmaker Dominique Margot; a case study on Danish films; and a tribute to the work of Belgian-born France-based movie director Agnès Varda.

There is a "best-of" section showing festival highlights from the last decade: 12 Angry Lebanese (Lebanon), I Am the One Who Brings Flowers to Her Grave (Syria), Little Sky (Argentina), On Feeling Cold (Egypt), Pinochet Children (Chile, Germany), Profession: Documentarist (Iran), Resistance (Spain), Silent City (Netherlands), and Trip Along Exodus (Palestine, Syria, Lebanon).

The festival was launched in 2008, the first of its kind in the Arab region. Each of its films, from across the world, have a woman director but do not necessarily focus on feminist issues.

All films are screened in their original language with Arabic subtitles, and screenings are free. Full programme details on website.