25 Egyptian films top the Cairo Film Festival's list at the beginning of the century.

The Cairo International Film Festival, in partnership with the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Egyptian Film Critics Association, announced the results of the poll “The 25 Best Egyptian Films of the First Quarter of the 21st Century.” This step comes as part of the celebration of the centenary of the union's founding, and as an affirmation of the ongoing cooperation between the three parties.

The festival is scheduled to publish a comprehensive book as part of its official publications during the 46th edition (November 12-21, 2025). The book will include the results of the poll, along with critical analyses of each film, as well as an extensive survey of the most significant artistic and production phenomena witnessed by Egyptian cinema over the past 25 years. A special session will also be devoted to discussing the book's content during the festival.

Background to the referendum announcement The initiative was officially announced at the Egyptian Pavilion at the Cannes Film Market (Marché du Film) during the 78th Cannes Film Festival (May 13–24, 2025). The poll was the result of a brainstorming session between the International Federation of Film Critics, the Cairo Film Festival, and the Egyptian Film Critics Association, with the aim of presenting a critical vision documenting the history of Egyptian cinema spanning more than a century.

The voting form was sent to members of the Egyptian Film Critics Association, including a list of 881 Egyptian feature films that were screened publicly between January 1, 2001, and July 31, 2025. The list includes films shown in cinemas, on satellite channels, or via digital platforms, ensuring equal opportunities for all works. 63 male and female critics participated in the voting process, reflecting the critical community's interest and desire to provide a reliable reference for the most prominent works in the quarter century of Egyptian cinema's history.

List of the 25 Best Egyptian Films 2000-2025

The results of the referendum were as follows:

I Love Cinema (2004) - Osama Fawzy

Sea Letters (2010) – Daoud Abdel Sayed

Citizen, Informant, and Thief (2001) - Daoud Abdel Sayed

Bab al-Shams (2004) – Yousry Nasrallah

In the Heliopolis Apartment (2007) – Mohamed Khan

Sleepless Nights (2003) – Hani Khalifa

The Best of Times (2004) – Hala Khalil

Microphone (2010) – Ahmed Abdullah Al-Sayed

Ibrahim Al-Abyad (2009) – Marwan Hamed

The Yacoubian Building (2006) – Marwan Hamed

The Magician (2001) – Radwan Al-Kashef

The Last Days of the City (2016) – Tamer El Said

Your Excellency the Minister (2003) - Samir Seif

Tell me, Scheherazade (2009) – Yousry Nasrallah

Out by Day (2012) – Hala Lotfy

Closed Doors (2001) – Atef Hetata

Feathers (2021) – Omar Al-Zuhairy

Fish Garden (2008) – Yousry Nasrallah

Searching for an Exit for Mr. Rambo (2025) – Khaled Mansour

Factory Girl (2013) – Mohamed Khan

One Zero (2009) – Kamla Abu Zekry

Free Time (2006) – Mohamed Mustafa

Al Jazeera (2007) – Sherif Arafa

Abu Zaabal 89 (2025) – Yasser Mortada

Chaos (2007) – Youssef Chahine and Khaled Youssef

The Cairo Film Festival's international standing

Since its founding in 1976, the Cairo International Film Festival has maintained a special status as one of the most prestigious film festivals in the Arab world and Africa. It is also the only one in the region to be classified as "A" by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).