The ninth edition of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival concluded after nine days of programming, distributing top prizes across multiple regions and categories. Mohammed Hammad’s ‘Safe Exit,’ a psychological drama centered on a young Coptic security guard in Cairo processing trauma linked to religious violence, received the Golden Star for best narrative feature. Ahmed Hassouna’s ‘Citizen Osama,’ documenting a Gaza-based photojournalist navigating work and family obligations during conflict, claimed both the documentary Golden Star and best Arab documentary award. Anders Davidsen’s ‘Stolen Memories,’ about an teenager investigating his past through discovered photographs, won best short film, while Rakan Mayasi’s ‘Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep’ took best Arab narrative and Marie Rose Ousta’s ‘One Day Born’ received best Arab short. Acting awards went to Rakeen Saad for best actress and Jovan Ginić for best actor.
The festival’s industrial component, CineGouna, has grown into a major focus alongside screenings. More than 320 projects applied for CineGouna Funding, with 19 selected to receive over $350,000 across 40 awards. The platform now encompasses funding programs, industry forums, marketplace connections, and emerging talent initiatives. A new Egyptian Voices development program and inaugural Series lab for Arab television projects expanded this year’s offerings, reflecting efforts to build comprehensive industry infrastructure.
The television initiative exposed structural gaps in Arab media development. Industry participants noted a surfeit of creative talent but scarcity of platforms and development opportunities, leaving creators competing for limited outlets and causing broadcasters to adopt cautious strategies. Separately, a new Safe Harbour MENA program supported four regionally displaced filmmakers through training and networking, emphasizing professional development alongside storytelling opportunities.
Discussions at the festival highlighted Egyptian cinema’s evolving landscape, with industry figures noting a younger generation operating with greater creative latitude and audiences increasingly exposed to international productions. Participants advocated for models reducing financial risk while expanding artistic freedom, with emphasis on specific, locally rooted storytelling. The festival also launched Cinema on Wheels, a tour bringing selected shorts to screenings in multiple Egyptian cities with audience discussions, extending the festival’s reach beyond its Red Sea location and annual dates.
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