El Gouna Film Festival highlights industry support and career achievements

The 9th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival, held from October 15 to 23, 2026, is highlighting industry development and celebrating cinematic achievements. The festival has extended its cultural reach through the ‘Gouna in Zawya’ initiative, a four-year collaboration with Cairo’s Zawya Cinema that will showcase seven selected international films in October.

To support the next generation of filmmakers, the festival’s ‘CineGouna’ platform offers five key programs, including film support, a talent hub, and a market. A new initiative, ‘CineGouna Series,’ led by screenwriter Mariam Naoum, aims to develop and market Arabic drama series. Additionally, the ‘Egyptian Voices’ program provides specialized support for local filmmakers in the early stages of project development.

During the festival, prominent Egyptian figures addressed industry challenges. Actress Elham Shahin participated in a panel discussing the structural and ideological hurdles facing women in cinema, defending her film ‘Lahm Rakhees’ and noting a decline in active producers in Egypt. Meanwhile, actress Mona Zaki was honored with a Career Achievement Award, reflecting on her three-decade journey of artistic reinvention and the importance of creative freedom.