Balqees Fathi captivated the audience with her elegant appearance on the red carpet during the opening ceremony of the 8th El Gouna Film Festival, held amid a wide artistic and media presence from Egypt and across the Arab world.

She appeared in a stunning off-shoulder golden gown designed with a flowing cut that highlighted her femininity and sophistication. Balqees completed her look with a short, modern hairstyle that added a bold, contemporary touch, while her soft, harmonious makeup accentuated her natural beauty; making her one of the most dazzling stars of the opening night.

During the ceremony, the festival revealed details of its new edition, which features around 70 films from different countries worldwide. The selection includes feature films, documentaries, and short films, with notable participation from Egyptian cinema, represented by five films in the official competitions. The opening film is Happy Birthday, while a special screening of The Gentlemen will take place before its commercial release in theaters on October 22.

The jury of the feature film competition is headed by Egyptian actress Laila Eloui, joined by Giona Nazzaro, Rashid Masharawi, Kani Kusruti, and Nahuel Pérez Biscayart.

The documentary film jury is chaired by French director Nicolas Philibert, alongside Asmae El Moudir, Sona Karapoghosyan, Mohamed Said Ouma, and Hala Galal.

The short film competition jury is headed by Mahdi Fleifel, with members Andrea Gatopoulos, Juliette Kanno, Souad Bushnaq, and Mostafa El Kashaf.

The Green Star Award jury includes Jana Wahba, Mai El Gheity, and Niklas Engström, while the FIPRESCI jury (International Federation of Film Critics) consists of Omnia Adel, Pamela Cohen, and Ramachandran Bisharat.

This year’s edition also honors actress Mena Shalaby with the Creative Achievement Award, recognizing her rich artistic career and impactful roles in Arab cinema. In addition, the festival will celebrate the birthday of legendary filmmaker Youssef Chahine with a special tribute and a visual exhibition inspired by his iconic film Cairo Station (Bab El Hadid).