Amidst a captivating festive atmosphere on the shores of the Red Sea, the El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) concluded its eighth edition, attended by a distinguished gathering of international stars, filmmakers, and industry professionals. The closing ceremony served as the crowning achievement of days of intense cultural activity, reaffirming the festival’s established global status as a vital bridge between East and West, and an indispensable fixture on the international film festival circuit.
The Night of the Harvest: “Sijo” Claims Gold and Ahmed Malek Makes History
The closing night featured the presentation of the prestigious “Golden Star” awards. Jury members praised the thematic diversity and artistic boldness that characterized this year’s selections. In a historic moment, Egyptian actor Ahmed Malek became the first Egyptian to win the Best Actor award in the festival’s history for his role in the film “Colonia”. Meanwhile, French star Léa Drucker was named Best Actress for her poignant performance in “For Adam”.
In the Feature Narrative Competition, the film “Sijo” by director Simon Mesa Soto secured the El Gouna Golden Star, while “Luckiest Lou” took home the Silver Star. Egyptian cinema maintained a strong presence, with director Mohamed Rashad’s film “The Colony” winning the El Gouna Bronze Star, and the Tunisian film “Where the Wind Takes Us” being crowned Best Arab Narrative Film.
Documentaries and Cinema for Humanity
In the Feature Documentary Competition, the film “Always” won the Golden Star. Egyptian director Namir Abdel Messeeh achieved notable success with his film “Life After Seham”, which earned both the Best Arab Documentary award and the Silver Star. Furthermore, the “Cinema for Humanity” (Audience Award) was shared between the Iranian documentary “Place Your Hand on Your Soul and Walk” and the Egyptian film “Happy Birthday”, in recognition of their profound humanitarian messages.
A Platform for Industry Support and Knowledge Exchange
Beyond the screenings, the festival reinforced its role as a catalyst for the regional film industry through “CineGouna Springboard.” This initiative provided financial and logistical support to film projects in development, opening new horizons for emerging talents. The edition also featured a series of high-level seminars and panel discussions addressing modern directing techniques and the challenges of Artificial Intelligence in visual arts, featuring global experts.
A Message of Peace and Sustainability
The festival concluded by emphasizing its mission to foster cross-cultural dialogue through the universal language of art, while also highlighting environmental consciousness through the “El Gouna Green Star,” which was awarded to the American documentary “The Seeds.”
As the curtain falls on this edition, El Gouna Film Festival proves its remarkable capacity for renewal, strengthening Egypt’s pivotal role as a leading cultural and tourist destination and providing an inspiring model that celebrates cinematic creativity in its finest forms.
October 24, 2025.
