slogan “Cinema for Humanity.”

In its eighth year, the festival continues to establish itself as one of the leading cinematic platforms in the Arab region, aiming to connect Arab filmmakers with their international counterparts, expand opportunities for cooperation and co-production, and support emerging talents by presenting their work to industry professionals and audiences alike.

Opening Ceremony Details

The opening ceremony takes place this evening in the Egyptian resort town of El Gouna on the Red Sea, with the red carpet scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. (Cairo time).

The event will be broadcast through Egyptian television channels and the festival’s official social media platforms, with special coverage of both the opening and closing ceremonies by media outlets including Roya TV.

The ceremony will feature a welcoming speech, a musical performance, and a tribute to a number of prominent artists, followed by the screening of the opening film, the Egyptian feature Happy Birthday, directed by Sara Gohar.

The film won three awards at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival: Best International Feature, Best International Screenplay, and the Nora Ephron Award for Best Director.

Starring Nelly Karim, Hanan Motawie, and Doha Ramadan, the film was written by Sara Gohar and Mohamed Diab, who also co-produced it alongside Jamie Foxx and others.

Honorees and Guests

This year, the festival honors Egyptian actress Menna Shalaby with the Creative Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding career.

Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett, who also serves as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, will be the festival’s guest of honor, receiving the “Hero of Humanity” Award and taking part in a special panel discussion moderated by Raya Abirached.

Competitions and Awards

Thirteen feature films are competing for El Gouna’s Golden, Silver, and Bronze Stars, including:

For Adam (Belgium–France)

Father, Mother, Sister, Brother (USA)

Colonia (Egypt)

The Colony (Egypt)

Gleam of Distant Mountains (Japan)

Where the Wind Takes Us (Tunisia)

The documentary competition features 12 films competing for cash prizes of up to $30,000 for Best Documentary Film. Notable entries include “Always”, “Kabul Between Prayers”, and “Life After Siham”.

Honoring Egyptian Icons

This year, the festival also celebrates the centenary of legendary Egyptian director Youssef Chahine through an exhibition inspired by his classic film Cairo Station.

Additionally, a special exhibition titled “Yousra: 50 Years of Art” will showcase the iconic actress’s five-decade journey across cinema, television, and theater.