After the great success of its eight previous editions, the Panorama of the European Film is hosting its 9th edition from 2-12 November. The annual event gathers international award-winning feature and documentary productions from across Europe and showcases them in cinemas and art houses all over Egypt, including Zawya, Karim, Rivoli, Amir, Cityscape, and others. In addition, some cultural centres such as Institut Francais d’Egypte, Goethe Institut, and Istituto Italiano de Cultura are also participating by hosting the screening of some films at their headquarters.
The panorama was launched in 2004 and co-funded by the European Union under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the Egyptian Film Centre. Over the years, it has managed to attract an increasing number of viewers owing to the quality and uncensored nature of the films featured, as well as the rich exchanges and debates with international guests.
This year, the panorama includes eight movie subsections, with the main one being the European Cinema section, dedicated to the latest award-winning films of the past year. Others include the Documentary Rendez-vous, Emerging Directors, and Panorama Classics sections.
However, this year the panorama welcomes a new section called “Urban Lens | Spotlight on Berlin”, which features a selection of films in which the city acts as both the medium and the subject. The city of Berlin will be highlighted through five pivotal films across various genres.
Equally novel in this edition is the “Panoranimation” section, which will feature a selection of the latest critically-acclaimed European animation films.
The panorama will keep the the “Crossroads” section, which showcases features that were produced out of cooperation between Europe and the Middle East. As well as the “Carte Blanche” section, where three leading Egyptian directors share their choice of a European title that left a mark on them.
Among its anticipated line-up are some of the biggest titles of the year that competed in the top European film festivals, beginning with La Fille Inconnue (The Unknown Girl), the latest Dardenne Brothers film. It tells the story of a female doctor who attempts to uncover the identity of a patient who died after she refused surgery. The movie competed for the Palme D’Or at the Cannes festival.
In addition, the panorama will screen the Italian documentary Fuocoammare (Fire At Sea), which focuses on the European migrant crisis through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy from a local fishing family. The movie won the prestigious Golden Bear Award at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival and is Italy’s Best Foreign Language Film entry for the Academy Awards in 2017.
The panorama will also welcome the participation of other important films such as The Wait, which competed in the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, Sieranevada, which participated in Cannes, as well as After Love, which was screened in the Directors’ Fortnight section at Cannes.
