This summer, Cairo is coming to Canada—on screen, that is. The Toronto Arab Film Festival, taking place from June 20-29, 2025, is rolling out the red carpet for a vibrant lineup of Egyptian films, from surreal historical tales and nostalgic childhood memories to bold commentaries on love, grief, and the absurdities of life.
Whether you’re into poetic shorts or philosophical time-travel, this year’s selections offer a cinematic journey. Here’s your guide to the full lineup of Egyptian movies lighting up the big screen:
Back to Alexandria – Tamer Ruggli
Opening the Toronto Film Festival is Back in Alexandria. The movie follows Sue, a woman living in Switzerland, who returns to her native Egypt to reconnect with the mother she abandoned years ago.
As she retraces the steps of her youth in Alexandria, she’s forced to confront buried traumas and the complexities of forgiveness. The film blends personal memory with the quiet power of homecoming.
Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo – Khaled Mansour
Hassan’s only mission is to save his beloved dog, Rambo. But in doing so, he uncovers a deeper grief lurking beneath the surface.
Through quiet moments and tender dialogue, this film captures how heartbreak sneaks up in the most unexpected ways.
Apoleon – Amir Youssef
Inspired by a diorama at a museum in Paris, this imaginative film reimagines the French campaign in Egypt through a curious lens.
A surreal dialogue unfolds between Napoleon and his generals as they ponder the mystery of the Sphinx’s missing nose. It’s a whimsical yet sharp meditation on how history is shaped and distorted.
Dawn Every Day – Amir Youssef
Set in 1956 Egypt, Dawn Every Day follows eight-year-old Nabil as he navigates a world in transition after the Suez Canal nationalization.
Through his innocent eyes, we witness changing social dynamics and the challenges they impose on friendship and belonging. A nostalgic coming-of-age drama rooted in political change.
Mango – Randa Ali
After her estranged father dies, Nadia finds herself overwhelmed by grief and memories. Her feelings all became rooted in a mango tree in their old garden.
Through fruit, family, and heat-soaked nostalgia, this poetic short, Mango, explores mourning, memory, and identity.
A City Without Love – Mostafa Gerbeii
In a society where affection is taboo, Hanan and her lover plan their first kiss in secret on Valentine’s Day.
Their act of intimacy spirals into a scandal, exposing the norms that govern the city they live in.
A City Without Love powerfully captures how fear, repression, and public shame distort human connection.
Are You a Rabbit? – Hatem Emam
After getting fired out of nowhere, an art teacher spirals. A deep talk with his son about food turns dark when he brings home two rabbits for dinner.
But as the lines blur between reality and his unraveling mind, he starts seeing himself in the caged animals. A haunting, trippy look at survival, burnout, and losing your sense of self.
Catsaros – Muhammad El Hadidi
A lonely man finds an antique phone that lets him connect with a woman from the 1940s. Through mysterious conversations across time, he begins to confront his own sense of isolation and longing. A melancholic time-slip romance brimming with vintage charm.
Perfumed With Mint – Muhammed Hamdy
In this dark, directional debut from Emmy-winning cinematographer Muhammed Hamdy, mint leaves grow from the bodies of disillusioned Egyptians, attracting ghostly shadows in a decaying Cairo.
As Bahaa and Mahdy navigate the haunted streets, the film becomes a poetic, hallucinatory elegy to a city—and a generation—unable to forget.
Thick with symbolism and soaked in scent, it’s a stunning, sedated meditation on memory, trauma, and the invisible things that chase us.
Double Trouble – Ahmed Essam Soliman
In a lively Egyptian neighborhood, kids play soccer, old men play backgammon, and a couple sneaks a romantic moment until everything spirals into chaos.
Through interconnected scenes and characters, this energetic short paints a vivid portrait of how ordinary lives can unravel in the blink of an eye.
A fast-paced, witty take on daily life, youth, and the beauty and madness of the urban Egyptian experience.
Conclusion
From nostalgic Alexandria to mint-scented madness in downtown Cairo, this year’s Egyptian lineup at the Toronto Arab Film Festival captures a wide spectrum of emotion, creativity, and commentary.
These films prove that Egyptian cinema is not only alive, it’s blooming with boldness, and whispering (or shouting) its truths to the world.
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