Egyptian Cinema and the Cairo International Film Festival w/ Essam Zakarea

Listen to our podcast conversation with Essam Zakarea, the artistic director of the Cairo International Film Festival via the player below.

The latest episode of the Showcast is a conversation with Essam Zakarea, the esteemed Egyptian film critic and newly-appointed Artistic Director of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), set to take place from the 13th to the 22nd of November, 2024.

During our conversation, Zakarea takes us back to those first moments when the magic of film first grabbed hold of him, and shares his thoughts on the characteristics that make cinema such a powerful and universal form of communication. He also shares the influence that CIFF had in shaping his cinephilia and his vision for where the festival’s headed next, including a sneak peek at some of the events that’ll make the upcoming edition truly special.

Together, we also dive into the current state of Egyptian cinema, including its potential and talents, and consider what the future holds for both the film industry and film culture in the country and beyond.

Showcast is a series of candid podcast conversations from the world of film, presented by The Film Verdict and hosted by Matt Micucci.

Photo courtesy of Essam Zakarea.