The highly anticipated 8th edition of El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) kicked off this evening, with a spectacular opening ceremony attended by an array of distinguished film stars and industry professionals from around the world. The festival will run until October 24. This year, the GFF proudly showcases Egypt as a land of history, culture, and peace, coinciding with the momentous Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit and the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of several prominent figures, including Engineer Naguib Sawiris, Founder of the Festival and Chairman of Orascom Investment Holding; Engineer Samih Sawiris, Founder of El Gouna and Chairman of the Festival’s Board of Trustees; Major General Amr Hanafi Governor of Red Sea Governorate; the acclaimed actress Yousra, member of the Festival’s International Advisory Board; Mohamed Amer, CEO of El Gouna and Managing Director of Orascom Development Egypt; Amr Mansi, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Festival, Marianne Khoury, the Festival’s Artistic Director and Intishal Al Timimi, Former Festival Director and Strategic Adviser GFF.
This major event reflects the true spirit of El Gouna—a city that continues to prove, through its annual festival, that it is not merely a tourist destination, but a pioneering hub for art and culture in Egypt and the region. Since its inception, the El Gouna Film Festival has played a vital role in cementing the city’s position as an incubator for creativity and a platform that embraces diverse voices and fosters artistic dialogue, embodying El Gouna’s vision as a vibrant city that celebrates humanity through art. With its unique character and diverse community, El Gouna remains an inclusive city that welcomes everyone, attracting creators and art lovers from around the world, reflecting its international identity and spirit of openness.
The opening ceremony featured the screening of a captivating montage of trailers and clippings from the films that will be presented in the festival’s various sections. The ceremony began with the Egyptian national anthem, followed by an introduction narrated by media personality Anas Bukhash, who accompanied the audience throughout the evening with his warm voice and calm presence, delivering a series of voiceovers that formed the emotional thread of the event.
The ceremony also featured a special performance by artist Taha Desouky, who brought an atmosphere of joy and humor to the stage. During the evening, a special tribute video was shown to honor departed figures from the world of cinema—moments filled with both tears and pride, as the faces of those who shaped the history of film were lovingly remembered.
In an exceptional musical segment, singer Lili Farid performed a selection of international and Egyptian film songs such as Nessun Dorma, La Vie en Rose, Volare, Jai Ho, Tito, and Mafia, taking the audience on a journey across languages and cultures that reflect the festival’s open and global spirit. She was joined on stage by young singer Aisha Al-Suwaidi, while voice artist Ihab Shawky added a philosophical and human depth through his narrated pieces, expressing the essence of cinematic storytelling and the human journey in search of self and beauty.
The program concluded with a touching humanitarian message delivered in the words of Anas Bukhash, encapsulating the spirit of the festival — affirming that what unites people is stronger than distance or difference, and that art is the mirror of humanity that brings us together. The event closed with a dazzling fireworks display by artist Ahmed Essam, marking the official opening of the 8th edition.
As part of the ceremony, star Yousra, member of the Advisory Board, presented the Career Achievement Award to actress Menna Shalaby, saying: “Today, I have the pleasure of introducing someone very dear to me – one of the most extraordinary artists of her generation. This new wave of talent is full of remarkable people, but she stands out as one of the brightest. She brings such care to every role – bold, strong, yet gentle. What makes her truly special is the way she touches your heart with her sincerity and love. She’s moved me countless times: when she cries, I cry; when she laughs, I laugh”.
After receiving the Creative Achievement Award, actress Menna Shalaby said: “For twenty-five years, I dreamed of seeing an invitation with the words ‘Artist Menna Shalaby’ written on it. And today, that dream has brought me here. I thank God for the gift of connecting with people, in all their diversity – it’s the greatest blessing I could ask for. I was also fortunate to learn from true legends – Mahmoud Hamida, Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, Ilham Shaheen, Hala Sidki, Laila Elwi, and many others. Once, I only dreamed of meeting them. Today, I have the honor of standing here because of all I learned from them.”
In his speech, Engineer Naguib Sawiris, Founder of the El Gouna Film Festival and Chairman of Orascom Investment Holding, said: “Welcome to the 8th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival, where we continue our journey under our enduring slogan ‘Cinema for Humanity’. From the beginning, we believed that cinema is more than just art — it is a universal language that reveals the essence of humanity, reflects our pains and dreams, and allows us to imagine a fairer and more compassionate world. Today, we are proud that El Gouna Film Festival has become a cultural beacon and a meeting point where ideas and hope are born from creativity.”
Engineer Samih Sawiris, Founder of El Gouna and Chairman of the Festival’s Board of Trustees, expressed his great joy in welcoming guests to the 8th edition of the festival, noting that in just eight years, it has become one of the most prominent film festivals in the region and the world. He added that this edition is particularly special, as it coincides with the 35th anniversary of the founding of El Gouna — the city where the festival’s dream was born, now a true home for creativity and cinema saying “Thirty-five years ago, I stood here when this area was still a desert. Today, I am honored to stand before you as we celebrate the 8th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival. Over the years, El Gouna has evolved to acquire a distinct identity as a hub for culture and creativity, with the festival becoming an integral part of its annual calendar of events.”
Sawiris also expressed pride in the achievements of young filmmakers whose passion for cinema continues to inspire, highlighting the vital role of CineGouna Platform in supporting emerging talent and helping turn creative ideas into tangible projects. He emphasized that GFF has become a vibrant space that unites creators from across the globe, fostering dialogue, exchange, and artistic collaboration. He concluded by thanking everyone who contributed to the success of this event.
In his speech, Major General Amr Hanafi said: “The El Gouna Film Festival is more than an artistic event – it is Egypt’s window to the world, a bridge between cultures, and a celebration of art as life, peace, and unity. Each film is a dialogue that brings us closer as human beings. At the same time, El Gouna stands at the heart of the Red Sea’s global success, ranked among the world’s top four tourist destinations for four consecutive years – a recognition driven by world-class infrastructure, exceptional hospitality, and the collective vision that transformed this city into a true global platform for art and tourism”.
Amr Mansi, Executive Director and Co-Founder of El Gouna Film Festival, said: “The 8th edition of El Gouna Film Festival is held at a moment of profound national importance. We are proud to host this celebration of global culture in Egypt, the land of peace and history, coinciding with the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit and the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. This context elevates our enduring message: that art is a powerful tool for impact and change.
This year, our program underscores that belief. We received over 1,500 film submissions, selecting 82 outstanding works that represent diverse voices from all continents. Among them are award-winning titles from major international festivals, including the winners of the Golden Bear, Palme d’Or, Golden Lion, , Silver Leopard and the DOX Award— as well as many attractive films making their World, International and MENA premieres.”
Mansi added: “This year also features a strong Egyptian presence, with nine feature films and four shorts across different sections of the festival. We’re also proud to present five films officially submitted by their countries for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature category. One of the festival’s highlights this year is our collaboration with Netflix, which will present Frankenstein, directed by Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro, alongside an exclusive screenwriting workshop within the CineGouna Platform.”
He continued: “Through CineGouna and its various programs, we continue to serve as a vital launchpad for emerging voices from the Arab world, a foundation upon which this festival was built. Supporting young talent lies at the heart of our vision — it is the foundation upon which this festival was built. Many films that once received CineGouna support have gone on to premiere at major festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Locarno, Sundance, and Toronto. This year, we received a record-breaking 290 project submissions”
Mansi concluded: “The festival’s opening coincides with World Food Day, serving as an important reminder that cinema is not only a form of entertainment but also a tool for impact and change. In this spirit, we are proud to renew our partnerships with the United Nations and its agencies, including the World Food Programme — reaffirming our belief that art can be a powerful force for humanitarian action.”
Festival Artistic Director Marianne Khoury said: “Our gathering at the 8th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival is more than a celebration, it is a reaffirmation of our deep belief that art has the power to unite us, even in the harshest of times. As Egypt celebrates its timeless heritage with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, GFF reinforces that Cinema remains a space for dialogue and a bridge connecting people through their stories and dreams.
We are proud this year to present the program ‘Window on Palestine’, which gives filmmakers in Gaza the right to tell their stories after years of siege and destruction — reminding us that art cannot be occupied, and that hope is indestructible.”
Khoury added: “We also celebrate the centenary of Youssef Chahine, launching from El Gouna a tribute to the revolutionary filmmaker who turned cinema into a message that transcends the screen. Despite industry challenges, El Gouna Film Festival continues to prove that festivals are not merely for screenings, but spaces of creativity and dialogue — affirming our belief that cinema will always have the power to unite us and open doors to new hope and new voices.”
The juries responsible for evaluating the films participating in the festival’s official competitions have also been announced.
FEATURE NARRATIVE COMPETITION JURY
The Feature Narrative Competition Jury is composed of five distinguished figures: Laila Eloui, Actress, Egypt (President); Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Actor, Argentina; Kani Kusruti, Actress, India; Rashid Masharawi, Film Director, Producer, Palestine, France; and Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director, Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland.
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION JURY
The Feature Documentary Competition Jury is comprised of five celebrated professionals: Nicolas Philibert, Filmmaker, France (President); Hala Galal, Writer, Director, Producer, Egypt; Sona Karapoghosyan, Film Critic, Curator, Armenia; Asmae El Moudir, Writer, Director, Producer, Morocco; and Mohamed Saïd Ouma, Executive Director, Documentary Africa, Reunion Island.
SHORT FILMS COMPETITION JURY
The Short Films Competition Jury consists of five international talents: Mahdi Fleifel, Film Director, Denmark-Palestine (President); Suad Bushnaq, Music Composer, Jordan-Canada; Juliette Canon, Programmer, Critics’ Week – Cannes, France; Mostafa El Kashef, Cinematographer and Film Producer, Egypt; and Andrea Gatopoulos, Film Director, Italy.
GREEN STAR JURY
The Green Star Jury features three committed advocates for social and environmental causes: May Elghety, Actress, Activist, Egypt; Niklas Engstrøm, Artistic Director, CPH:DOX, Denmark; and Jana Wehbe, Producer, Cultural Advocate, Lebanon.
FIPRESCI JURY
The FIPRESCI Jury includes three influential film critics: Omnia Adel, Film Critic, Programmer, Egypt (President); Pamela Cohn, Freelance Curator, Writer, Consultant, Germany; and G P Ramachandran, Film Critic, Writer, India.
NETPAC JURY
The NETPAC Jury consists of three experts on Asian cinema: Dr. Anne Démy-Geroe, Film Curator, Writer, Australia (President); Hala Khalil, Film Director, Egypt; and Jean-Marc Thérouanne, CEO, Artistic Director, Vesoul IFF of Asian Cinema, France.
