The El Gouna Film Festival announced a third screening of the Egyptian film “Happy Birthday”, directed by Sara Gohar, scheduled for Wednesday at 9:00 PM at the Audimax Hall. This additional screening comes in response to the overwhelming audience demand following the film’s first two showings, and in recognition of the festival’s commitment to offering more viewers the chance to experience this remarkable work, which has carved out a distinctive place in the Egyptian and Arab cinematic scene this year.

Widespread Success

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, where it received critical acclaim and won three major awards—Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay—before being officially selected to represent Egypt at the Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category. This achievement marks a milestone in contemporary Egyptian cinema, celebrating the return of its humanistic and social voice to global platforms.

“Happy Birthday” also screened as the opening film of the current El Gouna Film Festival in the “Official Selections Out of Competition” category, where it received a warm audience reception. The premiere was attended by most of the film’s cast and crew, including director Sara Gohar, filmmaker and writer Mohamed Diab, and the acting ensemble. This marked the film’s first screening in the Middle East and Africa, standing as a collective celebration of the new wave of Egyptian cinema—one that balances deep human emotion with artistic vision.

Storyline

The film follows Touha, a young girl working as a maid in a wealthy Cairo household. Her harsh reality becomes intertwined with the birthday celebration of the homeowner’s daughter, creating a delicate intersection between innocence and pain, childhood dreams and harsh social realities. Through the eyes of the child, the film paints a poignant portrait of a society where social classes coexist amid profound inequalities.

The cast includes Nelly Karim, Hanan Moutawea, Hanan Youssef, and child actors Doha Ramadan and Khadija Ahmed. It was written by Sara Gohar and Mohamed Diab, and directed by Sara Gohar in her feature-length directorial debut. The film has earned its place among the most notable Egyptian productions of the year, not only for its artistic sincerity but also for its strong social awareness. Gohar is also one of the standout participants in the CineGouna Platform’s Rising Stars Program, continuing her ascent as one of the most promising voices in contemporary Arab cinema.

This third screening offers a special opportunity for cinephiles at El Gouna to experience a deeply moving Egyptian film that restores faith in cinema’s ability to blend artistic beauty with human storytelling.

About the El Gouna Film Festival

The El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) is one of the leading film festivals in the Middle East and North Africa, aiming to foster cross-cultural communication through cinema and to connect regional filmmakers with their international counterparts, promoting collaboration and cultural exchange. The festival is dedicated to discovering new cinematic voices and to advancing Arab cinema through its industry arm, CineGouna Platform.

About El Gouna City

El Gouna is an integrated and sustainable city developed by Orascom Development, and has been a Red Sea landmark for over 35 years. Spanning 36.9 million square meters, the city features 9,200 delivered housing units, 18 hotels with 2,800 rooms, international schools (British and Swiss systems), a world-class hospital, startup workspaces, four marinas, two international-standard golf courses, a Premier League football club, a conference and cultural center, and numerous essential services. El Gouna is home to around 25,000 residents from over 50 nationalities, and is located just 30 minutes from Hurghada International Airport, approximately a four-hour flight from Europe.