Joint Press Release by the World Food Programme and El Gouna Film Festival

Joint Press Release by the World Food Programme and El Gouna Film Festival
El Gouna Film Festival

El Gouna, Egypt — October 18, 2025 — The El Gouna Film Festival (GFF), in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), has dedicated its eighth edition to one of the world’s most pressing challenges: food security. The festival kicked off on October 16, coinciding with World Food Day, marking the start of a week-long celebration filled with events and discussions aimed at raising awareness about global efforts to combat food insecurity.

This collaboration comes as part of a multi-year agreement between the El Gouna Film Festival and the United Nations in Egypt, through which each future edition of the festival will focus on a different development issue.

Jean-Pierre de Margerie, WFP Representative and Country Director in Egypt, stated: “Food security is not just a policy issue—it’s a deeply human one. We believe in the power of art to move hearts and minds. Through this partnership, we invite filmmakers and audiences to engage with the realities of food security and resilience; ending hunger must be present on screens, in stories, and in public consciousness.”

During the opening night, guests received hand fans illustrated by children supported by WFP in Egypt’s most vulnerable communities, along with a pin combining symbols of bread, wheat, and cinema—worn by celebrities and filmmakers to express their solidarity with the cause.

Amr Mansi, Executive Director of the El Gouna Film Festival, commented: “Our collaboration with the World Food Programme reflects our shared belief in storytelling as a catalyst for social impact. Choosing food security as this year’s theme is not just symbolic—it’s a call to action, reminding us that art and cinema can be powerful tools for positive change.”

To bring this theme to life, WFP and GFF are hosting several activities throughout the festival, including the second edition of the “Eish” Short Film Competition. The word Eish means both “bread” and “life” in Arabic, symbolizing sustenance and vitality. The competition, organized by WFP, GFF, and Zest, invites filmmakers from across the region to submit creative concepts addressing food security and resilience. The winner will receive production support to turn their idea into a short film next year.

At the heart of the festival, a special interactive installation offers visitors a symbolic experience centered around bread as both a staple food and a universal emblem of food security. This exhibit aims to deepen public understanding of food security while showcasing WFP’s efforts to support vulnerable communities.

In partnership with El Gouna City, a charity cycling marathon will also take place, with all proceeds going to support WFP operations in Egypt. The city has pledged to donate to WFP for every kilometer completed during the event.

By shining a spotlight on food security through cinema and a range of community events, the El Gouna Film Festival and the World Food Programme aim to spark meaningful dialogue and inspire action toward a world where everyone has access to safe and sustainable food.