We Speak Movies

Manchevski’s Sister Brother Manhole Cover Claims the Tokyo Grand Prix

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

Milcho Manchevski on the Tokyo International Film Festival red carpet. Photo by Dick Thomas Johnson, via Wikimedia Commons.

North Macedonia took the top honor in Tokyo. Sister Brother Manhole Cover, the new film from director Milcho Manchevski, won the Tokyo Grand Prix at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, which brought its edition to a close with an awards ceremony on November 4.

The film is a darkly comic social satire about two siblings struggling to get by in Skopje, the North Macedonian capital. It was produced as a co-production between North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Italy and the United Kingdom, and the Grand Prix carries a cash prize of ¥3 million.

For Manchevski, the win adds another major festival laurel to one of European cinema’s most decorated careers. His 1994 feature Before the Rain won the Golden Lion in Venice and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and his films have remained fixtures of the international festival circuit in the decades since.

The jury’s other major honor, the Special Jury Prize, went to Magic Atlas, an animated feature by Chinese artist and filmmaker Sun Xun that was developed over more than a decade. The Audience Award, voted on by festivalgoers, went to Heysel 85, directed by Teodora Ana Mihai.

This year’s competition lineup ranged across stories of poverty, family strain and social inequality, and the top prizes followed that spread, landing with filmmakers from North Macedonia, China and Belgium’s festival circuit. For Sister Brother Manhole Cover, the Grand Prix now positions the film as one of the year’s essential international titles as it moves toward wider distribution.

We Speak Movies

Cairo Festival Opens Second New Wave Program for 100 Emerging Filmmakers

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

We Speak Media

Guests on the red carpet at the 47th Cairo International Film Festival

One hundred emerging filmmakers from across Egypt are now inside the Cairo International Film Festival. The festival’s New Wave Program opened its second edition this week, putting young talents from 23 governorates into six days of training, screenings and direct meetings with filmmakers from Egypt and around the world.

Hussein Fahmy, President of Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), and film critic Mohamed Tarek, the Festival’s Artistic Director, inaugurated the second edition of the New Wave Program, held as part of the Festival’s 47th edition in partnership with the Drosos Foundation and with the support of the British Council.

The opening event was attended by Mai Abou El-Soud, representing the Drosos Foundation; Cathy Costain, Head of Arts at the British Council; Yomna Khattab, Director of the program; and all 100 participants, comprising young men and women from the emerging generation of film talents.

The opening gathering was marked by enthusiasm and interaction between the participants and the program’s organizers. The New Wave Program is one of Cairo International Film Festival’s key initiatives dedicated to supporting new generations of filmmakers, providing training opportunities, and fostering professional connections for young talents from across Egypt’s governorates.

Welcoming the participants, Hussein Fahmy expressed his happiness at seeing such a large number of young people brought together by their passion for cinema. He emphasized that investing in emerging talent is one of the Festival’s most important roles, alongside screening films and celebrating their filmmakers.

Fahmy said: “I am delighted to see 100 young men and women here today, coming from different places, each carrying a dream of finding their place in the world of cinema. This enthusiasm gives us confidence in the generations to come, and I hope this experience will be a real beginning for projects and films that we will see at Cairo International Film Festival in the years ahead.”

He added that Cairo International Film Festival, which celebrates 50 years since its establishment this year, places supporting emerging talent among its top priorities. He noted that the value of the Festival is also reflected in its ability to open doors for young creatives and bring them closer to diverse cinematic experiences and professional expertise.

The Festival President expressed his gratitude to the Drosos Foundation, the British Council, and all the partners and sponsors who contributed to the implementation of the program. He also praised Yomna Khattab and her team for their efforts in preparing this edition and their commitment to providing participants with a distinctive experience.

For his part, Mohamed Tarek, the Festival’s Artistic Director, welcomed participants to the second edition of the New Wave Program, emphasizing that the initiative reflects the Festival’s vision of broadening access to cinema and providing young people with opportunities to learn, experiment, and build professional relationships with filmmakers from Egypt and around the world.

Tarek said: “What makes the New Wave Program particularly special is that it brings together young people from different backgrounds, experiences, and governorates, placing them at the heart of an international film festival. Here, they can watch and discuss films, meet their filmmakers, and benefit from professional expertise that can be difficult to access under normal circumstances. We want every participant to leave this experience with new ideas, professional relationships, and a real step toward bringing their own film project to life.”

He added that the program was designed to provide participants with a comprehensive experience combining theoretical knowledge, practical training, and film screenings, while emphasizing diversity in disciplines and professional backgrounds. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that the professional and creative relationships formed during the Festival continue beyond the end of its activities.

The Artistic Director also thanked the Drosos Foundation, the British Council, and the project’s sponsors for their continued support, as well as Yomna Khattab and the program team for their efforts in organizing the activities, selecting the participants, and preparing the training content.

The opening of the second edition of the New Wave Program follows a strong response to the program’s open call, which received more than 850 applications from across Egypt. A total of 100 participants were selected according to criteria aimed at promoting geographic and artistic diversity and providing opportunities for talents who face challenges in accessing training and professional networks.

The current cohort includes 70 participants from outside Cairo, representing 23 Egyptian governorates, including Aswan, Alexandria, Beheira, Sohag, the Red Sea, Beni Suef, and Damietta, alongside 30 participants from Cairo. Women account for 55% of the selected participants. The program also includes five Arab participants residing in Egypt, from Sudan, Palestine, Iraq, Yemen, and Somalia.

The program’s training track runs for six days, during which participants receive specialized training in several areas of filmmaking, including directing, screenwriting, cinematography, producing, and editing, in addition to workshops, panel discussions, and direct meetings with Egyptian, Arab, and international filmmakers and film professionals.

The sessions and workshops feature a number of prominent names, including Tunisian-French cinematographer Farida Marzouk, Jordanian producer Rula Nasser, Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, and Syrian filmmaker Ameer Fakher Eldin, alongside a number of Egyptian film professionals, including Mariam Abou Ouf, Bassam Mortada, Noha Adel, and Amr Moussa.

The program begins its training activities with a creative workshop led by actor Mohamed Hatem, one of the stars of *Berlin* , directed by Ahmed Abdallah and participating in the 47th edition of the Festival.

The New Wave Program also provides participants with the opportunity to attend selected Festival screenings, benefit from its artistic and industry events, and connect directly with directors, producers, actors, and industry professionals. Participants will also have access to individual mentorship opportunities and discussions addressing their projects and the challenges facing young people at the beginning of their careers.

Participants traveling from outside Cairo receive a fully funded experience covering transportation, shared accommodation, and Festival accreditation, reflecting the program’s commitment to expanding access and reaching emerging talents across Egypt’s governorates.

The continuation of the New Wave Program for a second consecutive year reflects Cairo International Film Festival’s commitment to strengthening its role in discovering and developing emerging talent and building bridges between different generations of filmmakers. Through the initiative, the Festival seeks to open new opportunities for young creatives to actively participate in the Egyptian and Arab film industries.

[Link to photos from the Red Carpet and Awards Opening Ceremony](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-iqd5-1-rHOL5sv7Q8OphHcDTN1UpSxz)

About Cairo International Film Festival

Cairo International Film Festival is one of the oldest film festivals in the Arab world and Africa, and one of the leading international festivals celebrating the art and industry of cinema. Established in 1976, the Festival is held under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and is accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).

The 47th edition of the Festival takes place from November 11 to 20, 2026, featuring 145 films from 64 countries.