Cairo International Film Festival returns with only local sponsors amid Israeli-link boycott

The 45th round of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), slated for Wednesday, will only have local sponsors after the event management had refused to accept any companies linked with Israel on the boycott blacklist. 

The festival president, renowned actor Hussein Fahmy, told reporters during a recent press conference that all sponsors this year are Egyptian companies, including the country's national airliner, EgyptAir, and the local soda brand, Spiro Spatis.  

"Our stance is clear - we will not work with entities that compromise our values or stand against the cause we embrace," Fahmy said in reference to the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

"Not only does the festival celebrate cinema, it also highlights our heritage and identity," he added.

Fahmy confirmed that the financial status of the festival has been stable despite the absence of international sponsors. 

Following his media statements, Fahmy's name has been trending on social media, with pro-Palestine activists in Egypt and elsewhere hailing the move.

The superstar has long been known for decisive stances. In 2006, Fahmy gave away his diplomatic passport after he stepped down as the UNDP Regional Goodwill Ambassador for the Arab States in protest of the Israeli aggression on southern Lebanon and the loss of civilian lives back then. 

The annual festival has given special attention during this round to Palestinian cinema, commencing the inaugural ceremony with the premiere of Palestinian film "Ahlam Abera" (The Passing of Dreams). The film is directed and written by Rashid Mashhrawi.

The one-week festival includes 194 films from 72 countries. A new category, entitled "From Zero Distance," has been added to this round festival this year to celebrate Palestinian cinema, where short films directed by 22 Palestinian filmmakers from Gaza will be screened.

CIFF is the region's oldest cinema festival, organised by Egypt's Ministry of Culture.  Last year, the festival was called off in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Over the past year, campaigns in Egypt and elsewhere in the region adopted a blacklist posted by Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS), resorting to local brands instead. BDS is a Palestinian-led movement that calls for boycotting Israeli brands and others of countries that support Israel.

The Israeli onslaught on the neighbouring strip has so far claimed the lives of over 43,000 Palestinians and injured more than 100,000 others since it first erupted on 7 October 2023, extending in recent months to Lebanon.