With a cinematic tradition dating back as far as the 1930s, Cairo is known as the 'Hollywood of the Middle East'. The Cairo International Film Festival began in 1976 and is accredited by the same prestigious organisation that accredits the Cannes, Berlin, and Venice film festivals. It has been held very successfully every year except 2011 when it was cancelled due to revolutionary upheaval and apparent lack of funds. The festival returns in 2012, hoping to reclaim its reputation as a world-class film festival, particularly as in recent years it has faced increasing competition from other impressive film festivals like the Abu Dhabi, Marrakech and Tel Aviv film festivals which are also now internationally acclaimed. The Cairo International Film Festival is a big event on the Egyptian calendar and usually attracts visitors from all over the world who either come exclusively to experience the festival or who carefully time their holidays to coincide with this fun and famous event.

Venue: Various

Date: 27 November to 6 December 2012