It was perhaps not the best time for Cairo to host its annual international film festival. Grappling with multiple challenges, including a struggling economy, terrorism in Sinai and a standoff with journalists, the Egyptian government has its plate full.

But the authorities in Cairo had hoped the 38th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) would attract a large number of foreign visitors at a time when tourism, the lifeblood of the Egyptian economy, has been hard hit by terror fears. In his address at the opening ceremony, Minister of Tourism Mohamed Rashed expressed his support for the festival, which he said “bears witness to the fact that Egypt is stable and safe and ... capable of hosting such grand international events.”

The authorities had also hoped the festival would serve as a distraction for Egyptians, offering them some respite from their anxiety over the high prices of basic commodities and looming harsh austerity measures. That is one reason why organizers decided to extend the event beyond the confines of the Cairo Opera House (the traditional venue) to theaters in downtown Cairo for the first time in five years, making the films accessible to a wider audience.

The festival, however, fell short of the state’s overly ambitious expectations. There were no Hollywood celebrities flashing big smiles on the Cairo red carpet this year. And for most Egyptians, even the modestly priced 20 Egyptian-pound ticket (less than $2) for each show was a luxury they could not afford during this time of economic crisis.