The festival is headed by film critic and historian Magda Wasef, while artistic advisers include filmmaker, cinema historian and critic Mohamed El-Kalioubi; filmmaker Dawood Abdel Sayed; film critic Youssef Cherif Rizkallah and journalist Salma El-Shamaa. 

 

The Egyptian writer Bahaa Taher is an honourary president of the festival. 

 

The British film Salmon Fishing in The Yemen by Lasse Hallström, starring the Egyptian actor, Amr Waked, will open the five-day festival. will be honourig British cinema. 

 

The Egyptian filmmaker Samir Seif will head the jury, which includes members from France, Germany, Portugal and Croatia. 

 

The competition will screen 10 films throughout five days. "We put more importance on the content and quality than quantity," Wasef told Al-Ahram Arabic-language news portal. 

 

The festival is organised by the Noon Foundation for Culture and Arts (NOONCA) and the ministry of culture.