MENA-wide Community of Producers Expands to Egypt, Bringing Cross-Regional & international Partnership Opportunities to Prestigious Festival

DUBAI, UAE / CAIRO, EGYPT – CoProduction Salon, the leading community for MENA-based producers, platforms, and media investors, has partnered with the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) to create a collaborative platform that supports regional and international co-production ventures. The collaboration will take place during the festival from November 12-21, 2025, at venues including the Cairo Opera House and Sofitel Cairo Nile Hotel.

This landmark partnership marks CoProduction Salon's strategic expansion into Egypt, one of the most important markets in the MENA region, following its successful establishment in events over the past four years in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and France. The collaboration represents the first partnership of its kind, focusing on enhancing the entire region's production partnership structure.

During the festival, CoProduction Salon will host a physical lounge to complement its established online platform, bringing together the three essential tools for successful partnerships: market intelligence, community promotion, and matchmaking opportunities. The salon will also contribute to CIFF's planned prestigious activities, including the "Cairo Film Connection" initiative, which features speed pitching sessions designed to connect promising projects with financing opportunities.

"We are thrilled to partner with the Cairo International Film Festival, bringing our proven partnership facilitation model to Egypt's vibrant film industry," said Heba Korayem, Founder of CoProduction Salon. "This collaboration represents a pivotal moment in strengthening cross-regional co-productions across MENA, offering filmmakers unprecedented access to our network of over 200 media professionals and the track record of facilitating over 500 content partnership deals in just the past two years."

The partnership is expected to extend for coming years as CoProduction Salon seeks to provide ongoing support to the Egyptian production community through enhanced cross-regional partnerships and co-productions. Filmmakers attending will have the opportunity to pitch their projects and connect with partners across multiple markets, accessing a community that includes some of the biggest names in MENA content production.

CoProduction Salon's community features notable production houses contributing to the billion-dollar content economy, including Cedars Arts, Different Productions, Rise Studios, Iraqi giants Al Manasa and 1001 platforms, Eagle Films, and many more. Many of these CoProduction Salon members have confirmed their participation in the CIFF activities.

In this context, Hussein Fahmy, President of the Cairo International Film Festival, stated:

"We are delighted to launch this partnership with CoProduction Salon — a new step in our ongoing efforts to connect Egyptian and regional cinema with their peers across the globe. "We believe the future of filmmaking lies in collaboration and co-production, and this initiative offers a truly interactive platform that enhances and fosters communication among producers, investors, and creators from around the world, broadening the horizons of Arab cinema on the global stage and further entrenching it in the international zeitgeist."

Participation in CoProduction Salon activities is by application only, with specific criteria that emphasize commercially driven projects featuring clear ROI projections, similar to investment pitches. This approach ensures that participating filmmakers present market-ready projects to potential partners and investors.

Founded in 2021 and based in the UAE, CoProduction Salon has established itself as the premier platform for increasing investment in regional production through partnership-facilitating structures. The organization's mission focuses on building sustainable connections between producers, platforms, and media investors across the MENA region and beyond.

The Cairo International Film Festival, one of the oldest and only internationally accredited prestigious film festivals in the Arab world and Africa, continues to serve as a vital platform for showcasing regional and international cinema while fostering industry connections and development.

About CoProduction Salon

CoProduction Salon is the MENA region's largest community of producers, platforms, and media investors, founded in 2021 and based in the UAE. With over 200 accepted media professionals and a track record of facilitating over $15 million worth of reported deals in the past two years, the organization focuses on increasing investment in regional production through innovative partnership-facilitating structures.

About Cairo International Film Festival

Founded in 1976, Cairo International Film Festival is one of the most prestigious and longstanding film festivals in the Arab world and Africa, and the only one in the region classified as a Category “A” Festival by International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) in Paris. Held annually under the esteemed patronage of Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, the festival aims to support the film industry, foster intercultural dialogue, and highlight both Arab and international cinematic creativity, while celebrating and honoring leading artists from around the world.

October 9, 2025

Dubai, UAE / Cairo, Egypt