Luxor African Film Festival to Celebrate 100 Years of Youssef Chahine
The 15th LAFF will honour the Egyptian filmmaker with movies, exhibits and panels in partnership with the Ministry of Culture.
The Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) has announced that its 15th edition, scheduled for February 2026, will feature a special tribute marking the centenary of legendary Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine’s birth. The announcement was made by festival president Sayed Fouad and director Azza Elhosseiny.
Backed by the Ministry of Culture and organised by the Independent Shabab Foundation, the festival will host a dedicated programme that includes curated screenings of Chahine’s films, exhibitions, and panel discussions focusing on his legacy in both African and Arab cinema.
Born in Alexandria in 1926, Youssef Chahine became one of Egypt’s most influential directors, with a career spanning more than five decades and titles such as ‘Cairo Station’, ‘The Land’, and ‘Alexandria... Why?’ His work gained international recognition, including at the Cannes Film Festival, where he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.
LAFF, which has become a central platform for African filmmakers, continues to spotlight cultural connections across the continent through cinema. Full programming details and the list of participating countries are expected to be announced in the coming months.
