Submissions have opened for the Yahya El-Fakharany edition of the British University in Egypt Student Film Festival (BUESFF), which is scheduled to take place from 12 to 14 October 2025. The second iteration of the festival honours the Egyptian actor Yahya El-Fakharany for his artistic legacy.
Adel Saleh, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Mass Media and President of the Festival, announced that the festival’s programming team has begun receiving submissions. The final deadline for entries is 8 August 2025, after which the selection committee will start curating the official competitions. Student filmmakers can submit their works through the following link: https://filmfreeway.com/BUEISFF-BritishUniversityInternationalStudentsFilmFestival.
Saleh highlighted that the 2025 edition is a tribute to Yahya El-Fakharany, “acknowledging his extensive contributions to Arab cinema and drama.” He also revealed that the festival “will feature a rich program of Arab and international cinematic events designed to foster learning, exchange, and networking opportunities for participating students, helping them develop their professional skills.”
Professor Mohamed Lotfy, President of the British University in Egypt, stated that the inaugural edition of the festival “garnered substantial positive feedback, with over 1,800 student films submitted from universities across the Arab world and beyond.” He emphasised that this participation “reflects the strong interest of student filmmakers in competing for the festival’s prestigious awards.”
Professor Lotfy also noted that the number of participating films is “expected to increase this year due to the expansion of both official and parallel competitions.” He affirmed the university’s “commitment to providing all necessary resources to deliver a distinctive festival experience that nurtures emerging cinematic talents and contributes to the revitalization of the filmmaking industry by opening new doors for students and young creators.”
The theme for this year’s festival is “A Call to Reflect on Our Shared Human Experience,” Festival Director Samah Nassar explained. She said the theme invites students “to explore universal narratives—whether cultural, global, or deeply personal—that resonate across borders.” Nassar emphasised that this theme “encapsulates the festival’s mission to promote creativity, dialogue, and cross-cultural understanding through student filmmaking.”
The festival comprises six competition categories: short narrative films, short documentaries, animated films, media-related films, experimental works, and films focusing on women’s issues. All submitted films must not exceed 15 minutes in duration.
