The Belgian film King of Belgians will open the 10th Panorama of the European Film on 7 November.

The film will be screened at Zamalek Cinema, which joins the Panorama for the first time this year as one of the two main screening venues in Cairo, alongside Zawya.

Spanning 11 days, the event brings to Egyptian audiences a selection of the latest award-winning European feature, documentary, and short films, while also highlighting several European classics.

King of Belgians is a mockumentary directed by Jessica Woodworth & Peter Brosens, and co-produced by Belgium, the Netherlands and Bulgaria.

The film follows the fictional King Nicolas III (The King of Belgians) who, unable to fly due to a solar storm, finds himself on a road trip across the Balkans trying to return home after his trip to Istanbul as Wallonia declares its independence from Belgium.

The film won the KNF Award at the Rottterdam International Film Festival, where it was described as “an immensely likable film set in a parallel world that closely resembles ours. Through its humour and charming main character, it touches on themes that are urgent and meaningful in today's world.”

The film won four other awards including the Ensor Award for best screenplay at the Film festival Oostende, and best film at the Odessa International Film Festival, and was nominated for 17 other awards at festivals including the Venice Film Festival, Hamburg Film Festival, Zagreb Film Festival and Marrakech International Film Festival.

Panorama’s opening requires an invitation. Film screenings will begin on 8 November at Zawya and Zamalek Cinema, while free screenings for select films will be held at the Goethe Institute and the French Institute in Cairo.

Screenings will be held at Amir Cinema in Alexandria, at Rio Cinema and at the Arkan Cultural Centre in Port Said, and at Dunya Cinema in Ismailia.

Assiut, Mansoura, Zagazig, and Damietta will also feature single screenings as part of the Panorama.