Khaberni - The Cairo International Film Festival, in partnership with the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Egyptian Film Critics Association, announced the results of the poll "Top 25 Egyptian Films in the First Quarter of the Twenty-First Century," celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the establishment of "FIPRESCI".
It is planned that a comprehensive documentary book will be released as part of its official publications for the 46th session, which will be held from November 12 to 21, 2025. This book will include the results of the poll and a critical analysis of each of the 25 selected films, along with an extensive review of the major artistic and production phenomena that the Egyptian cinema has experienced over the last quarter of a century.
A special session will also be organized to discuss the book during the festival events.
This poll was launched as one of the prominent international activities celebrated by the association during its centennial year, with the collaboration officially announced at the Egyptian pavilion at the Cannes Film Market (Marché du Film) during the 78th Cannes International Film Festival from May 13–24, 2025.
881 Films
The preliminary list included 881 films representing all the Egyptian feature films that were publicly released from January 1, 2001, to July 31, 2025. Despite missing the last five months of 2025, this gap was overcome to ensure the results were announced on time for the Cairo Festival.
63 Voters
The voting witnessed significant participation, with 63 members of the association submitting their lists during the voting period.
The results of the poll for the top 25 Egyptian films (2000–2025) are as follows:
1. I Love Cinema (2004), by director Osama Fawzi
2. Messages from the Sea (2010), by director Daoud Abdel Sayed
3. A Citizen, a Detective and a Thief (2001), by director Daoud Abdel Sayed
4. The Gate of the Sun (2004), by director Yousry Nasrallah
5. In the Heliopolis Flat (2007), by director Mohamed Khan
6. Sleepless Nights (2003), by director Hany Khalifa
7. The Best of Times (2004), by director Hala Khalil
8. Microphone (2010), by director Ahmed Abdullah
9. Ibrahim the White (2009), by director Marwan Hamed
10. The Yacoubian Building (2006), by director Marwan Hamed
11. The Magician (2001), by director Radwan El-Kashef
12. The Last Days of the City (2016), by director Tamer El Said
13. His Excellency the Minister (2003), by director Samir Seif
14. Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story (2009), by director Yousry Nasrallah
15. Coming Forth by Day (2012), by director Hala Lotfy
16. Closed Doors (2001), by director Atef Hetata
17. Feathers (2021), by director Omar El Zohairy
18. The Aquarium (2008), by director Yousry Nasrallah
19. Searching for the Exit: The Case of Mr. Rampo (2025), by director Khaled Mansour
20. Factory Girl (2013), by director Mohamed Khan
21. One-Zero (2009), by director Kamla Abou Zekri
22. Leisure Time (2006), by director Mohamed Mostafa
23. The Island (2007), by director Sherif Arafa
24. Abu Zaabal 89 (2025), by director Bassam Mortada
25. Chaos (2007), by directors Youssef Chahine and Khaled Youssef
