The 9th edition of the industry hub showered 16 Arab projects in development and post-production with cash and in-kind grants, underscoring the festival’s expanding role in regional cinema.
CineGouna Funding, the industry arm of the El Gouna Film Festival dedicated to nurturing Arab cinema, has unveiled the full slate of winners for its 9th edition. Spanning both development and post-production stages, the platform awarded over $350,000 in cash prizes and service grants provided by the festival alongside its high-profile sponsors.
Following rigorous deliberations, a jury comprising German producer Dorothe Beinemeier, Egyptian filmmaker Nadine Khan, and Palestinian producer Hanna Atallah—in coordination with partner organizations—distributed 40 distinct awards across 16 of the 19 competing projects.
Amr Mansi, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the El Gouna Film Festival, praised the growing backing from industry partners. “The steady increase in both the volume and value of these grants reflects El Gouna’s escalating stature within the global film industry. These funds ensure these projects reach completion in their finest form,” Mansi noted. He also highlighted two new festival initiatives—Egyptian Voices and Safe Harbor MENA—designed to further broaden avenues for Arab storytellers.
Ahmed Shawky, Head of CineGouna Funding, underscored the intense industry engagement throughout the event. “Across the program’s run, creators behind the 19 selected projects conducted over 140 one-on-one meetings with international companies, institutes, and festival representatives. Moved by the extraordinary caliber of the showcase, several sponsors voluntarily bumped up their award allocations.”
Complete List of CineGouna Funding Winners 2026:
Best Project in Development ($15,000 & CineGouna Platform Certificate) Paradise Beach (France) – Dir. Zoulikha Tahar, Prod. Manu Missia
Best Film in Post-Production ($15,000 & CineGouna Platform Certificate) House No. 7 (Syria, Germany, Qatar) – Dir. Rama Abdi, Prod. Hazar Yazji
Sawiris Foundation Award (EGP 1.5 Million) After Forty (Egypt, Belgium) – Dir. Sameh Alaa, Prod. Mark Lotfy
International Emerging Talent Film Fund (IEFTF) Grant (€10,000) Makka Lee Lee (Sudan, Egypt, Brazil, Germany) – Dir./Prod. Marwa Zein
PepsiCo Award ($10,000) To the Heart (Tunisia, France, Italy) – Dir. Mehdi M. Barsaoui, Prod. Habib Attia
Emirates NBD Cash Award ($10,000) Money and Sons (Tunisia) – Dir./Prod. Houssem Sansa
Arab Radio and Television (ART) Cash Award ($10,000) Syrup (Saudi Arabia) – Dir. Imad Askar, Prod. Mondher Al-Tuwayrib
Rotana Studios Cash Award ($10,000) Syrup (Saudi Arabia) – Dir. Imad Askar, Prod. Mondher Al-Tuwayrib
Gemini Africa Cash Award ($10,000) After Forty (Egypt, Belgium) – Dir. Sameh Alaa, Prod. Mark Lotfy
Big Bang Studios Cash Award ($7,000) Out of the Herd (Egypt) – Dir. Adel Ahmed Yehia, Prod. Sawsan Yusuf
El Adl Group Studios Cash Awards ($5,000 each)
- Out of the Herd (Egypt) – Dir. Adel Ahmed Yehia, Prod. Sawsan Yusuf
- After Forty (Egypt, Belgium) – Dir. Sameh Alaa, Prod. Mark Lotfy
Good Pictures Cash Awards ($5,000 each)
- Waiting for Paradise (Egypt, Belgium, Sweden, Italy) – Dir./Prod. Mohamed Siam
- Gift of Blindness (Germany, U.S.) – Dir. Ibrahim Nash’at, Prod. Elijah Stevens, Ibrahim Nash’at
Chiaroscuro Arts and Film Production Cash Awards ($5,000 each)
- Waiting for Paradise (Egypt, Belgium, Sweden, Italy) – Dir./Prod. Mohamed Siam
- Money and Sons (Tunisia) – Dir./Prod. Houssem Sansa
Filmology Award ($5,000) The Prime of Life (Lebanon) – Dir. Noel Keserwany, Prod. Michelle Keserwany
Rise Studios Award ($5,000) Maadi Arabs (Egypt) – Dir. Ayten Amin, Prod. Louai Khrais
Red Sea Film Foundation Cash Award ($5,000) The Prime of Life (Lebanon) – Dir. Noel Keserwany, Prod. Michelle Keserwany
Kurdistan Film Commission Cash Award ($5,000) Biso (Iraq) – Dir. Muslim Habib, Prod. Huda Al-Kadhimi, Muna Al-Kadhimi
Kader Project Cash Award ($5,000) Syrup (Saudi Arabia) – Dir. Imad Askar, Prod. Mondher Al-Tuwayrib
Rank Studios Cash Award ($5,000) Mina (Lebanon) – Dir. Marie Rose Osta, Prod. Alain Elsaad, Marie Rose Osta
Sard Cash Award ($5,000) House No. 7 (Syria, Germany, Qatar) – Dir. Rama Abdi, Prod. Hazar Yazji
MAD Solutions Distribution Grant (Up to $50,000) The Prime of Life (Lebanon) – Dir. Noel Keserwany, Prod. Michelle Keserwany
Shift Studios DCP Services Grants ($12,000 value each)
- Out of the Herd (Egypt) – Dir. Adel Ahmed Yehia, Prod. Sawsan Yusuf
- Makka Lee Lee (Sudan, Egypt, Brazil, Germany) – Dir./Prod. Marwa Zein
Shift Studios Full Promotion Package Grants ($12,000 value each)
- After Forty (Egypt, Belgium) – Dir. Sameh Alaa, Prod. Mark Lotfy
- Maadi Arabs (Egypt) – Dir. Ayten Amin, Prod. Louai Khrais
Big Bang Studios Post-Production Services Grants
- Waiting for Paradise ($10,000 value) – Dir./Prod. Mohamed Siam
- Makka Lee Lee ($7,000 value) – Dir./Prod. Marwa Zein
Rank Studios Post-Production Services Grant ($5,000 value) Ibrahim’s Voice (France, Tunisia) – Dir. Yann Rabineau, Prod. Sophie Raynal
Sard Script Development Services Grant ($5,000 value) To the Heart (Tunisia, France, Italy) – Dir. Mehdi M. Barsaoui, Prod. Habib Attia
A.A. Films Script Development Services Grants ($5,000 value each)
- Waiting for Paradise (Egypt, Belgium, Sweden, Italy) – Dir./Prod. Mohamed Siam
- Paradise Beach (France) – Dir. Zoulikha Tahar, Prod. Manu Missia
Kader Project Script Development Services Grant ($5,000 value) Sacred Thirst (Switzerland) – Dir. Hamda El-Daoudi, Prod. Aida Schlaepfer Al-Hassani
The Sound of Egypt Audio Services Grants ($5,000 value each)
- Sacred Thirst (Switzerland) – Dir. Hamda El-Daoudi, Prod. Aida Schlaepfer Al-Hassani
- Maadi Arabs (Egypt) – Dir. Ayten Amin, Prod. Louai Khrais
TorinoFilmLab & IEFTF TFL NEXT Lab Invitation The Prime of Life (Lebanon) – Dir. Noel Keserwany, Prod. Michelle Keserwany
Durban FilmMart Access Award Makka Lee Lee (Sudan, Egypt, Brazil, Germany) – Dir./Prod. Marwa Zein
Documentary Association Europe (DAE) One-Year Membership Sacred Thirst (Switzerland) – Dir. Hamda El-Daoudi, Prod. Aida Schlaepfer Al-Hassani
