Egyptian cinema has long stood as a pillar of storytelling in the Arab world — vibrant, daring, and deeply rooted in a rich cultural and artistic heritage. Often called the “Hollywood of the Middle East,” Egypt has shaped generations of filmmakers and captivated audiences far beyond its borders. Among its brightest achievements has been its enduring presence at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, where Egyptian voices have resonated on the world stage.
Across decades, 28 Egyptian films have made their way to Cannes, reflecting the country’s evolving narratives and cinematic styles. At the heart of this legacy lies the monumental work of the late, legendary director Youssef Chahine, whose films brought Egyptian stories to international acclaim with bold vision and unmatched passion. A majority of the Egyptian entries at Cannes bear his name — a testament to his towering influence on both national and global cinema.
From classics like The Blazing Sun to contemporary gems such as Feathers, these films trace the artistic arc of Egypt’s cinematic identity — bold, emotional, political, and profoundly human. Here’s a closer look at the Egyptian films that earned their place in the Cannes spotlight over the years.
Feathers (2021)
Souad (2021)
I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face (2020)
Yommedine (2018)
A Coptic leper and his orphaned apprentice leave the confines of the leper colony for the first time and embark on a journey across Egypt to search for what is left of their families.
Clash (2016)
After the Battle (2012)
Director: Youssry Nasrallah
Cast: Menna Shalaby, Bassem Samra, Nahed El Sebai.
Alexandria.. New York (2004)
The Other (1999)
Adam is an Egyptian-American student who returns to Cairo for a visit and falls in love with a young journalist, Hanane. When they elope, Adam’s mother becomes possessive and jealous, and determines to get rid of her young rival for her son’s affections. Discovering that Hanane’s brother is a terrorist, she plans her revenge.
Director: Youssef Chahine.
Cast: Hani Salama, Nabila Obaid.
Destiny (1997)
The story is set in the 12th century in Arab-ruled Spanish province Andalusia, where famed philosopher Averroes is appointed grand judge by the caliph and his liberal court judgments are not liked by everyone. The caliph’s political rivals, centered around the leader of a fanatical Islamic sect, force the caliph to send Averroes into exile, but his ideas keep on living thanks to his students.
Director: Youssef Chahine.
Cast: Nour El Sherif, Laila Elwi, Mahmoud Hemida.
Alexandria: Again and Forever (1989)
Al Yawm Al Sadis (1986)
Awdat Mowatin (1986)
Sarikat Sayfeya (1988)
Love Above The Pyramid Plateau (1985)
Adieu Bonaparte (1985)
Cast: Salah Zulfukar, Mohsen Mohi El Deen, Michel Piccoli.
The Sparrow (1972)
The Land (1970)
El Haram (1965)
A poor peasant woman becomes a symbol of worker oppression in this somber social drama directed by Henri Barakat. Azziza (Faten Hamama) is brutally raped by a guard when she goes into the fields to gather potatoes for her husband (Abdallah Gheiss). She does not relate the incident to her husband who is suffering from an undisclosed illness. Azziza hides the pregnancy and strangles the baby after it is born, but she also dies soon thereafter. The migrant workers rally around her memory as she becomes a martyr to the cause of the struggling peasants.
Director: Henry Barakat
Cast: Faten Hamama, Abdallah Ghaith, Zaki Rostom.
Last Night (1963)
Faten Hamama plays a wife who wakes up one morning to discover she is married to her brother-in-law in this suspenseful drama. The confused woman soon learns that fifteen years have gone by and that she was injured in a bomb blast that killed her sister. A local doctor tries to prevent the woman’s husband from killing her for the inheritance.
Director: Kamal El Sheikh.
Cast: Faten Hamama, Mahmoud Morsy, Ahmed Mazhar.
Life or Death (1954)
A man with cardiac problems, had heart attack and sent his daughter to get the medicine from the drug store, however the pharmacist discovers that he sent the wrong medication, he cooperates with the police to stop a disaster.
Director: Kamal El Sheikh.
Cast: Emad Hamdy, Youssef Wahbi, Madiha Hamdi.
The Leech (1956)
A young country man moves to Cairo complete his studies where he gets involved in an affair with his landlady– an elderly widow.
Director: Salah Abu Seif
Cast: Shokry Sarhan, Taheya Kariokka.
The Monster (1954)
Abdel Sabour was a thief and a smuggler known as The Beast to the people in one of the villages of upper Egypt; everyone was afraid of him, including the police. He enjoyed the protection of Redwan Pasha, who in turn used him during elections to eliminate his rivals. Officer Raouf Saleh was sent to the village with his wife and son with the assignment of arresting The Beast. However The Beast and his gang worked together from the beginning trying to dispose of the officer and his family in any way possible.
Director: Salah Abu Seif
Cast: Anwar Wagdi, Samia Gamal.
The Blazing Sun (1954)
A rich landlord floods and destroys a village on purpose to prevent the people living there from making a profit off their crops. What he doesn’t know is that his own daughter is in love with Ahmed, a young man from the village.
Director: Youssef Chahine.
Cast: Faten Hamama, Omar Al Sherif, Farid Shawky.
Lailat Gharam (1951)
Director: Ahmed Badrakhan
Cast: Mahmoud El Meligy, Mariam Fakhreldin, Abbas Fares.
Son of the Nile (1951)
A young man from outskirt rebels against his life and abandons his woman to go to Cairo.
Director: Youssef Chahine.
Cast: Faten Hamama, Yehia Chahine, Shokry Sarhan.
Mughamarat Antar w Abla (1948)
The knight and poet Antar fights for his love, Abla.
Director: Salah Abu Seif.
Al Bait Al Kabir (1949)
Director: Ahmed Kamel Mursi.
Dunia (1946)
Dunia’s affair with Mohamed leads to tragic consequences for them and their child.
Director:Muhammad Karim.
