Spring Came On Laughing garnered four awards, while Abu Zaabal 89 received three, making them the most successful films in this year's edition of the CIFF (13-22 November).

Spring Came On Laughing won the Henry Barakat Award for Best Artistic Contribution at an International Competition, shared with the Turkish film Ayse.

The film's director, Noha Adel, received the Salah Abu Seif Award for Best Director at the Horizons of Arab Cinema, while actress Rehab Anan was awarded a Special Mention.

In addition, the film received the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award.

Spring Came On Laughing presents four interconnected stories linked by the months: June, May, April, and March. 

The story is inspired by real-life events, and the connection between those months is vital, reflecting different stages in life.

Abu Zaabal 89 received the Best Documentary Award, a recognition shared with the Palestinian film State of Passion: Ghassan Abu Sitta. It also received a Special Jury Prize from the Africa No Filter Foundation, which collaborates with the CIFF for the first time, awarding African films.

Abu Zaabal also received a Special Mention at the International Critics Week competition.

Abu Zaabal 89 is based on Mortada's personal story about his father's past imprisonment and its impact on the whole family, prompting the director to embark on a journey of self-discovery.

The personal moments in the director's life symbolize personal loss in a film set against a broader political transformation in Egypt during the 1980s and 1990s.

The 45th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival concluded on 22 November, with awards announced during the ceremony at the Cairo Opera House's main hall. 

Another Egyptian film received a Special Mention: The Mother and the Bear (by Yasmina El Kamaly), competing in the Short Film segment of CIFF.