Amr Mansy Reveals El Gouna Film Festival’s New Vision
Amr Mansy, executive director and co-founder of El Gouna Film Festival, discussed the festival’s future direction and the challenges facing its management as it prepares for its ninth edition.
Speaking during the press conference for the ninth edition, Mansy explained that maintaining the festival’s success after years of development represents its biggest challenge in the coming period.
The conference also featured the announcement of a new identity and a different vision, reflecting plans to expand the role of the festival beyond the days during which its annual cinema program takes place.
⭐ “The Biggest Challenge Is Maintaining the Festival’s Success”
Amr Mansy stressed that reaching a strong level of success also brings greater responsibility.
He said: “The biggest challenge is maintaining the success of El Gouna Film Festival,” emphasizing the need to continue developing the experience rather than simply repeating previous editions.
The ninth edition is scheduled to take place from October 15 to 23, 2026, featuring film screenings as well as professional and cultural activities.
According to Mansy, maintaining the festival’s momentum requires entering a new phase while continuing to develop its identity and its role within the film industry.
🎬 A New Identity and a Different Vision
Mansy revealed that the ninth edition introduces a new identity and a different vision for El Gouna Film Festival.
The change extends beyond the festival’s visual presentation and also concerns the broader role and structure of its activities.
The new direction aims to strengthen the festival’s connection with the film industry and filmmakers while expanding the range of cultural and professional activities available to audiences.
It also comes alongside continued industry programs that give directors, producers and emerging talents opportunities to connect, exchange ideas and develop their projects.
🌍 El Gouna Becomes a Year-Round Cultural Platform
One of the key points highlighted by Amr Mansy was the intention for the festival to become a cultural platform operating throughout the year rather than limiting its activities to the annual festival period.
This approach would create more opportunities for continued cultural and professional engagement beyond the main festival dates.
It would also allow El Gouna to maintain closer connections with filmmakers, emerging talents and audiences throughout the year.
The CineGouna platform is one of the initiatives reflecting this direction, supporting film projects in development and post-production while offering mentoring, individual meetings and access to industry professionals.
🎥 “El Gouna Doesn’t Need Marketing”.. A Greater Responsibility Toward Cinema
Mansy also discussed the relationship between the festival and El Gouna itself, explaining that the festival no longer needs to focus primarily on promoting the city as a tourism destination.
He said: “El Gouna doesn’t need to be marketed after nine years of the festival. That was something said in the beginning, but now we are emphasizing our responsibility and the importance of the festival in supporting cinema.”
His remarks point toward a shift in focus from promoting the location to strengthening the festival’s artistic and cinematic role.
After nine editions, the priority he described is increasingly connected to supporting films and filmmakers and creating a space where different talents and industry professionals can meet.
🤝 Expanding Participation for People with Disabilities
Another part of the new direction discussed by Amr Mansy is the expansion of participation for people with disabilities in the festival’s activities.
This approach creates additional opportunities for participation and engagement within the festival’s cultural and cinematic events.
It also reflects a broader effort to make the festival a more diverse cultural and artistic platform, extending beyond film screenings and celebrity appearances.
📚 Supporting Cinema and Filmmakers
Mansy emphasized that the current phase places greater responsibility on the festival to support cinema and filmmakers.
This focus is reflected in initiatives such as CineGouna, which provides support for projects at different production stages through mentoring sessions, one-on-one meetings and opportunities to compete for cash and in-kind awards.
The ninth edition also features a range of professional and cultural activities designed to bring audiences and industry professionals together.
✨ El Gouna Between Success and Responsibility
Amr Mansy’s comments reflect a broader shift in how El Gouna Film Festival views its role after years of development.
The focus is no longer limited to organizing another annual edition. Instead, the discussion now includes how to sustain the festival’s achievements and expand its role.
The introduction of a new identity, the plan to operate as a year-round cultural platform and the expansion of participation for people with disabilities all form part of this wider direction.
At the same time, maintaining the success achieved over the past editions remains an ongoing challenge, while supporting cinema and filmmakers has become a central part of the festival’s stated responsibility.
Ultimately, Amr Mansy’s comments outline a new phase for El Gouna Film Festival, centered on developing its identity, expanding its activities and strengthening its cultural and professional role while continuing to support filmmakers and the wider film industry.
Do you think turning El Gouna Film Festival into a year-round cultural platform could add a new dimension to its experience? 🎬💬
