The Cairo International Film Festival opened with a forward-looking focus on Egypt's cinematic heritage, spotlighting a broad archive of Egyptian classics undergoing meticulous restoration. In a ceremony that celebrated preservation, audiences watched compelling before-and-after footage that showcased the transformative work on titles such as Hossam El Din Mostafa's A Crime in a Quiet Neighborhood and Kamal Al-Sheikh's Sunset and Sunrise, underscoring the festival's commitment to high-quality restoration. Film archivist Hussein Fahmi presented a bold vision for the archival future, outlining a strategic program of restoration, digitization, and public access designed to preserve Egypt's film legacy for generations to come. The emphasis on archival preservation signals a long-term investment in Egyptian cinema, inviting scholars, filmmakers, and audiences to re-discover beloved classics in pristine condition. The festival's opening highlights a growing trend in the region: celebrating heritage cinema while embracing modern restoration technology. By foregrounding restored classics alongside ongoing archival work, the Cairo International Film Festival reinforces its role as a guardian of Egypt's cinematic memory and a catalyst for archival innovation.