Paul Andrew Williams’ film Dragonfly has emerged as a standout at the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), winning the prestigious top prize of $7,000. The award was announced during a ceremony held at the iconic Cairo Opera House, where an international jury, chaired by renowned Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan, praised the film for its “profound exploration of solitude.”
Dragonfly tells the compelling story of two women who develop an unexpected friendship when one takes it upon herself to care for her elderly neighbour. The film showcases powerful performances, particularly from Andrea Riseborough and Brenda Blethyn, who were each awarded the best actress accolade for their roles.
A Night of Recognition and Awards
The film first premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023, where it garnered significant attention. At CIFF, it was joined by several other notable films, including Him and Her, directed by Tarzan and Arab Nasser. This film received three major awards: the Silver Pyramid for best director, which comes with a $5,000 cash prize; best actor for Majd Eid; and the best Arab feature, which includes a $10,000 award from Watch It.
Another highlight of the night was the Bronze Pyramid Special Jury Award, awarded to Him and Her with a $3,000 cash prize. The Henry Barakat Award for best artistic contribution in cinematography went to Mathieu Giombin for his work in the film On the Way, directed by Bangladeshi filmmaker Mahde Hasan.
Additionally, the Naguib Mahfouz Award for best screenplay was presented to Alireza Khatami for Cold Snap. A special mention from the Best Arab Film Jury was given to My Country is My Heart, directed by Iraqi filmmaker Zahraa Ghandour. The best Arab film in the Horizons of Arab Cinema competition was awarded to Horizon, directed by Lebanese filmmaker Sarah Francis, which won the Saad Eldin Wahba Award worth $10,000.
Celebrating Cinema and Its Impact
The festival also recognized the best performance award in the Horizons competition, given to Tunisian actress Afaf Ben Mahmoud for her portrayal of a mother in The Last Summer by Mohamed Ali Nahdi. The best script award of $5,000 was won by Yasser Shafie for Under the Same Sky. The Salah Abu Seif Jury Prize, amounting to $8,000, was awarded to Saudi documentary Let Us Go by Ali Saeed.
The Youssef Sherif Rizkallah Audience Award, valued at $15,000 and supported by Cred, was given to Free Gaza Circus, a documentary by Mai Saad and Ahmed Al Danaf. The best documentary award went to From the Shadows, directed by Lebanese filmmaker Nicholas Khoury. Alex Bakri received the International Critics’ Week Shadi Abdel Salam Prize for best film.
A special tribute was paid to Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was the subject of the festival’s closing film. CIFF president Hussein Fahmy emphasized the power of cinema to convey impactful stories and give a voice to the silent. He reiterated the festival’s commitment to fostering an environment that supports Arab filmmakers in showcasing their narratives and cinematic identities on an international platform.
During the closing ceremony, a series of major tributes were presented by Fahmy and the Egyptian Minister of Culture Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno. These included the lifetime achievement award, which was presented to acclaimed Chinese director Guan Hu, as well as the Golden Pyramid honorary award for lifetime achievement awarded to Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi. The festival also recognized renowned Egyptian cinematographer Mahmoud Abdel Samie with a lifetime achievement award.
In a significant strategic move, CIFF announced a cooperation agreement with Qatar’s Film Commission at Doha Media City. This agreement aims to enhance co-productions, create talent platforms, and improve international distribution for Arab cinema, paving the way for future collaborations and growth in the industry.
