The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) has unveiled the jury President for its 46th edition, as world-acclaimed Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan is to preside over the International Competition Jury. Hailed as one of the greatest living auteurs, the esteemed filmmaker’s cinematic artistry and significant body of work will bring a fresh perspective to one of the Arab world’s oldest and most renowned festivals.
Slated to take place from 12-21 November 2025, the 46th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival promises to be a competition for the ages with Ceylan setting a high standard for the films in the running for the Festival’s top prizes, including the Golden Pyramid.
A Global Auteur
Celebrated for his evocative humanist style and poetic visual compositions, Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s films are known for their introspective approach, moral complexity, and painterly aesthetics. The Turkish filmmaker is a towering figure in world cinema, with a body of work that has helped define the international arthouse scene.
Ceylan’s storied history with Cannes Festival is nothing short of legendary, with the award-winning director hailed as one of the Festival’s most successful figures. The major highlights of his illustrious career include:
- Palme d’Or for the sweeping masterwork Winter Sleep (2014).
- Grand Prix (twice) for Uzak (2003) and Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011).
- Best Director Award for Three Monkeys (2008).
- In 2023, his feature film, About Dry Grasses, won the Best Actress Award at Cannes for Merve Dizdar.
This rich body of work illustrates Ceylan’s virtuoso ability to combine philosophical musings with singular cinematic aesthetics, setting the bar for his peers across the world.
A Visionary Joining the Festival
Commenting on Ceylan’s appointment, CIFF President Hussein Fahmy underlined the Turkish director’s relevance, “The kind of cinema he crafts sets the standard for artistic excellence. Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s unique artistry mirrors the Festival’s mandate of honoring the work of bold and visionary filmmakers.”
Echoing Fahmy’s sentiment, Artistic Director Mohamed Tarek praised Ceylan’s deeply considered work, placing equal weight on “character, place and time.” Elaborating further on his appointment, Tarek added, “The Festival has long awaited the day it can welcome such an iconic figure. We have no doubt that his presence at CIFF will generate a vibrant dialogue about the creative potential of cinema.”
Deepening Cultural Exchange with Turkey
The news of Ceylan’s Jury Presidentship follows the recent announcement of a special collaboration that takes the Festival-Turkey relationship to new heights, significantly broadening the Festival’s ties with the Turkish film industry.
The collaboration includes Turkish institutions like TESİYAP (Turkish TV and Cinema Producers Association), TÜRSAK (Turkish Foundation of Cinema and Audiovisual Culture), and the Turkish Embassy in Cairo.
The two sides will organize special screenings of Turkish films in Cairo, welcome a 15-member delegation from Turkey’s film industry, and increase their participation in the Cairo Film Market.
This cooperation is a great leap forward in cultural diplomacy and, more importantly, will serve as a bridge between European and Middle Eastern cinema, traditions that the two festivals represent.
As the Jury President, Nuri Bilge Ceylan will lead an esteemed panel of filmmakers, artists, and industry leaders to announce the Festival’s winners. Details on the full official selection, as well as the jury, will be released in the coming weeks as the Festival gears up for its 46th edition.
