As Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip continued in conjunction with the imposition of a comprehensive blockade on the Strip, and following the postponement of a number of artistic activities in Arab countries, there was speculation that the Cairo Film Festival, scheduled for November 15, would be postponed.
The management of El Gouna Film Festival announced the postponement of the date of its sixth session for two weeks due to the operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" launched by the Palestinian resistance and the subsequent attacks of the Israeli occupation army, and some expected that the management of the Cairo Festival will proceed in the same direction.
However, Cairo Film Festival director Amir Ramses denied the possibility of postponing the 45th edition of the festival.
Ramses said in a statement to Al Jazeera Net that it is not expected to continue the current events for a period of more than a month and a half, and "so talk about postponing or canceling the Cairo Film Festival is not a decision or a wise idea and no intention to postpone."
He added that cinema "is a means of resistance and film festivals are not just a red carpet and parties."
Bab Al Shams
Regarding whether there is a special program that will include Palestinian works, Ramses said, "The festival will show the restored version of the film "Bab al-Shams - Al-Rahil" directed by Yousry Nasrallah in the next session, along with many Palestinian films dealing with the issue, and it will be announced in the coming days, so there will be no need for a specific program because Palestinian cinema is present in the festival all the time and interest in the Palestinian cause is not new."
A few days before Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, the Cairo Festival issued a statement announcing the selection of "A House in Jerusalem," directed by Moayad Elayyan and written by Rami Elayyan, to be included in the Midnight Screenings section, where the festival will witness the Arab premiere of the film.
The film co-stars Johnny Harris, Makram Khoury, Souad Fares and Miley Locke, and revolves around the child Rebecca, who suffers from a psychological crisis after the death of her mother in an accident, which she denies, although she was with her at the time of the accident.
Because of this, her father decides to move to Jerusalem in order to start over in the hope of healing the daughter from the painful past, as they move to an old house in West Jerusalem.
The film premiered at the Rotterdam Film Festival and participated in several international festivals, including Seattle, Galway, the Palestinian Film Festival in Boston, the Palestinian Film Festival in Australia and the Athens Palestinian Film Festival.
In the documentary competition, the Palestinian film "The Three Promises" directed by Youssef Al-Srouji will participate, which premiered at the Vizion du Real Festival.
Among the 10 films in the Short Film Competition is the Palestinian film "We Sing a Poem", directed by Annie Skab.