The El Gouna Film Festival" Grants Menna Shalaby the Creative Achievement Award"

Menna Shalaby

“El Gouna Film Festival” honors Menna Shalaby for her rich artistic career Menna Shalaby collaborated with a distinguished group of Egyptian and Arab directors

With the 8th edition of the El Gouna International Film Festival approaching, scheduled to run from October 16 to 24, the festival management announced that Egyptian star Menna Shalaby will be honored with the Creative Achievement Award, an annual accolade presented to filmmakers whose work has left a lasting mark on the world of cinema.

A Brilliant Beginning

Menna Shalaby’s artistic journey began in 2000 with the TV series Salma Ya Salama, after being discovered by the esteemed actress Smiha Ayoub. Her natural talent quickly drew attention, and the following year she starred alongside the late Mahmoud Abdel Aziz in The Magician (directed by Radwan El Kashif), a pivotal early role in her career. She soon went on to shine in major dramas such as Hadith Al-Sabah wal-Masaa (based on a novel by Naguib Mahfouz) and Ayn Qalbi opposite Yousra in Ramadan 2002.

A Rich and Diverse Portfolio

Over more than two decades, Shalaby has delivered over 40 films and nearly 20 television works, moving fluidly between comedy, tragedy, romance, and social drama, cementing her place as one of the most influential actresses of her generation.

On television, she left a lasting impression with standout roles in Sunset Oasis (2017), Why Not? (2021), Every Week Has a Friday—for which she became the first Egyptian actress ever nominated for an International Emmy Award in 2021—and Bitlou’ El-Rouh (2022).

Key Collaborations with Renowned Directors

Throughout her career, Shalaby worked with some of the Arab world’s most respected filmmakers on landmark projects, including:

Baheb El-Cima (2004) – Osama Fawzy
Heya Fawda (2007) – Youssef Chahine (screened at Venice Film Festival)
Girls of Downtown (2005) – Mohamed Khan
After the Battle (2012) – Yousry Nasrallah (in competition at Cannes)
The Originals (2017) and Diamond Dust (2018) – Marwan Hamed

Awards and Honors

Best Actress – Film Society Festival for Girls of Downtown (2005)
Best Leading Actress – National Film Festival for Love and Passion (2006)
Best Actress – Dubai International Film Festival for Nawara (2015)
Faten Hamama Excellence Award – Cairo International Film Festival (2019)

International Presence

Beyond her on-screen brilliance, Menna Shalaby has served on several major juries, including the official competition at the Carthage Film Festival (2014), and the feature film competition at El Gouna in its 5th (2021) and 7th (2024) editions. These contributions highlight her standing not just regionally but also internationally, reaffirming her role as one of the icons of contemporary Arab cinema.