Misr International Films

What Misr International Films does

Misr International Films (MIF) is an Egyptian, family-held entertainment company founded in 1972 by the late director Youssef Chahine, headquartered at 35 Champollion Street, Cairo. The company is vertically integrated across four operating segments — Production, Distribution, Cinemas (under the Premiere Cinemas brand), and Zawya (independent/art-house cinema programming) — plus a Production Services arm that supports foreign productions filming in Egypt.

Its core technology and asset base combine film-production capabilities, an in-house film restoration pipeline (used notably to restore Chahine's catalog for HD streaming and international retrospectives), and a growing owned-and-managed cinema exhibition footprint with premium formats including IMAX (introduced 2012), MX4D (2016), Dolby ATMOS, and LASER projection. MIF co-produces feature films with a stable of partners (New Century, Synergy Film, Magic BENZ, Red Star, Film Square) and distributes both locally produced and international titles theatrically across Egypt and the Middle East, digitally via Netflix (since June 2020), and at festival circuits.

MIF monetizes through four primary streams: one-time licensing / revenue-sharing on co-produced films, transaction fees from theatrical distribution, ticket, concession, and advertising revenue from owned/managed cinema multiplexes, and licensing royalties from the streaming catalog. It serves Arabic cinema audiences across Egypt and the broader MENA region, premium cinema-goers seeking luxury formats, international film production companies shooting in Egypt, and art-house/world-cinema audiences through the Zawya division, including the Panorama of the European Film festival. Leadership is concentrated in the Khoury family (Elie Khoury as Chairman, Gaby Khoury as CEO and Managing Partner, Marianne Khoury as Managing Partner, Ramzi Khoury as Deputy CEO), with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company.

Name

Misr International Films

Legal name

شركة أفلام مصر العالمية (Misr International Films)

Website

https://misrinternationalfilms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Misr International Films is a privately held, Cairo-based entertainment company founded in 1972 that vertically integrates film production, theatrical distribution, and cinema exhibition in Egypt and the MENA region through its Premiere Cinemas brand and Zawya art-house division, serving Arabic and international audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production and Distribution

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Theatrical Distribution (International) (MPADAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent & Art-house Cinemas (MPADAKAB), International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales) (MPADAJAC)

Keywords

• Film production services
• Film distribution
• Cinema exhibition
• Co-production partnerships
• Film restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairo

HQ country

Egypt

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Film Production: Co-production of Arabic and international films with production partners including New Century, Synergy Film, and Magic BENZ. MIF contributes capital and production services in exchange for distribution rights and revenue sharing.
2. Theatrical Distribution: Distribution of Egyptian and international films across cinemas in Egypt and the Middle East. MIF distributes films through their Premiere Cinemas chain and third-party cinema operators.
3. Cinema Exhibition: Operation of premium cinema multiplexes under the Premiere Cinemas brand, including ticket sales, concessions, and advertising revenue.
4. Streaming Licensing: Licensing of restored Youssef Chahine and Yousry Nasrallah films to Netflix for streaming in MENA region and worldwide.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Misr International Films is an integrated Egyptian film company that co-produces Arabic feature films with domestic and international partners, distributes films theatrically across Egypt and the Middle East and on streaming platforms such as Netflix, operates its own premium cinema multiplex network under the Premiere Cinemas brand, and provides production services to foreign productions shooting in Egypt. It also programs independent and arthouse cinema through its Zawya division and manages the restored Youssef Chahine film catalog.

Product overview

Misr International Films (MIF) is an integrated Egyptian entertainment company founded in 1972 by legendary director Youssef Chahine. The company operates across four interconnected business segments: Production (co-producing feature films with local and international partners), Distribution (theatrical and digital distribution of Egyptian and foreign films), Cinemas (Premiere Cinemas exhibition brand operating multiplexes with premium technologies like IMAX, MX4D, Dolby ATMOS, and LASER), and Services (production support for international filmmakers). The Zawya sub-brand focuses on independent and arthouse cinema programming including the Panorama of the European Film festival. MIF's library preserves and distributes the works of Youssef Chahine, while the company continues producing contemporary Egyptian cinema for theatrical, streaming (Netflix), and international audiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Film Production (Co-Production) Co-production of Arabic and international feature films with partners including New Century, Synergy Film, Magic BENZ, Red Star, and Film Square across genres including comedy, action, sci-fi, and drama. MIF contributes capital and production services in exchange for distribution rights and revenue sharing.
• Film Distribution Theatrical and digital distribution of Egyptian and international films across cinemas in Egypt and the Middle East, through Premiere Cinemas and third-party chains, and on Netflix for streaming in MENA and worldwide.
• Premiere Cinemas (Cinema Exhibition) Cinema exhibition and multiplex operations under the Premiere Cinemas brand across Egypt, including Nile City Mall, Arkan Plaza, Hurghada City Center, and New Administrative Capital, featuring premium technologies including IMAX, MX4D motion seating, Dolby ATMOS sound, and LASER projection.
• Zawya (Arthouse Cinema and Festival Programming) Specialty division focused on independent and arthouse films for local and international festival audiences. Manages Cinema Karim operations, curates Cinema Karim programming, and operates the Panorama of the European Film festival in Egypt.
• Production Services for Foreign Films Production services provided to foreign companies filming in Egypt, including location scouting, permits, crew coordination, and technical support for international co-productions.
• Youssef Chahine Film Library Extensive catalog of Youssef Chahine's filmography including restored classics such as Alexandria...Why?, An Egyptian Story, The Emigrant, Destiny, Saladin, The Blazing Sun, Dark Waters, Return of the Prodigal Son, and The Land.
• Youssef Chahine Retrospective Program Curated film retrospective program featuring restored prints of founder Youssef Chahine's works, screened internationally at festivals in France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Finland, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, and made available on Netflix.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Black Box released in 65+ locations across Egypt
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Nile City InvestmentmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2025Partnership with Nile City Investment for management of Nile Cinema at the iconic Nile City Mall in Cairo, launched July 2025.
• Red StarmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Red Star co-produces Complaint No. 713317, a black comedy by first-time director Yasser Shafie, with MIF and Film Square.
• Film SquaremajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Film Square partners with MIF on Complaint No. 713317 production, the feature debut of director Yasser Shafie.
• Magic BENZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2023Magic BENZ co-produces comedy films with MIF including Sugar Daddy and Abou Nassab, contributing to production financing and creative development.
• HometownmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2023Hometown real estate development partnered with MIF to establish one of the first cinema complexes in New Administrative Capital at The Village commercial center.
• I BRANDminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 12 January 2023I BRAND mediated the cooperation agreement between MIF and Hometown for cinema development in New Administrative Capital.
• Al Badr for InvestmentmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Al Badr developed Arkan Plaza where Premiere Cinemas (MIF subsidiary) manages Cima cinema multiplex featuring Dolby ATMOS and LASER technology.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 June 2020Netflix distributes restored Youssef Chahine and Yousry Nasrallah films for streaming in Egypt and worldwide with English subtitles, starting mid-June 2020.
• New CenturycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2020New Century is a key co-production partner for MIF films including The Washing Machine, Moussa, and other productions. They collaborate on film financing and production services.
• Synergy FilmcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2020Synergy Film co-produces films with MIF including The Washing Machine, Moussa, and Sugar Daddy. The partnership covers production and distribution in Egyptian and Middle Eastern markets.
• El Badr for Investment & Commercial SpacesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 January 2019El Badr developed Arkan mixed-use complex where MIF operates 9-screen cinema multiplex, expected operational Q3 2019.
• East Delta CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2018East Delta Company collaborated with MIF for developing a cinema complex inside Green Waves mall in Port Said.
• Al-Ridwan for ContractingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2018Al-Ridwan partnered with MIF for constructing a 9-screen cinema complex in Port Said with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vox Cinemas: Operated by Majid Al Futtaim, Vox Cinemas is the largest cinema chain across the Middle East with IMAX, 4DX and luxury formats. It is the most direct competitor to Premiere Cinemas for premium exhibition in the MENA region and competes for the same Egyptian and GCC premium moviegoer.
• Film Clinic: Egyptian film production company producing features, documentaries, and series. Closely comparable to MIF Production as a Cairo-based, internationally co-producing Egyptian film house.
• Empire International: Lebanese pan-Arab film distributor with a strong Egyptian cinema slate, comparable to MIF's regional distribution and co-production financing activities.
• El Sobky Group: Prominent Egyptian production and distribution group producing and distributing many of the country's biggest commercial films. It is a direct competitor for Egyptian theatrical distribution and co-production partnerships.
• Eagle Films: Lebanon-headquartered pan-Arab film distributor that releases Hollywood and Arabic content across the Middle East. Directly comparable to MIF Distribution in regional theatrical and home entertainment reach.
• Image Nation: Abu Dhabi-based content production and investment company producing Arabic and international films and series. Comparable to MIF in that it is a regionally anchored production house developing premium Arabic content with global distribution ambitions.
• MAD Solutions: Egyptian and pan-Arab film distribution, sales, and festival company handling Arab and African films internationally. Closely comparable to MIF's distribution arm and the Zawya division's festival-driven business model.

Broad incumbents

• AMC Theatres: Global cinema exhibition giant. Not a direct competitor in Egypt, but its international premium-format model and content distribution relationships inform how Premiere Cinemas positions IMAX, Dolby ATMOS and MX4D offerings.
• Rotana Studios: Largest Arabic media conglomerate with film, music, and TV production plus distribution across MENA. Operates at a much larger scale than MIF, making it a broad incumbent comparable across production, distribution, and content library monetization.
• Netflix MENA: MIF's streaming distribution partner for restored Chahine and Nasrallah films. A broad incumbent that both enables MIF's catalog monetization and competes for end-consumer attention against Premiere Cinemas exhibition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MIFCinemaEgypt
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/misrintfilms
• Facebookfacebook.com/MisrIntFilms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/misr-international-films

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Misr International Films