Mona Zaki receives Career Achievement Award at El Gouna Film Festival

Egyptian actress Mona Zaki was honored with the Career Achievement Award during the opening ceremony of the ninth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival. The award recognizes her three-decade career and her contributions to portraying diverse and complex female characters in Egyptian and regional cinema.

Director Mohamed Shaker Khodeir presented the award on stage. During her emotional acceptance speech, Zaki reflected on her professional journey and offered advice to younger performers, encouraging them to overcome fear to avoid restricting their potential. The event drew tributes from various industry colleagues, including Ahmed El Sakka.

In a separate discussion at the festival, actress Leila Eloui commented on the evolving landscape of cinema, noting a shift toward action and horror genres while emphasizing that films addressing human and social issues maintain lasting artistic value. The festival's opening film was the French feature ‘Tout sur Corinne’ by director Marc Feyssine.