🎬 CineGouna Announces Selected Projects for Its Ninth Edition
CineGouna for Film Production Support has announced the projects selected for its ninth edition, which will take place as part of the upcoming El Gouna Film Festival, scheduled to be held in El Gouna from October 15 to 23, 2026.
The ninth edition attracted significant interest from filmmakers, with the program receiving more than 310 projects from across the Arab world before the final selection process was completed.
The selected projects represent different stages of filmmaking, giving their creators opportunities to benefit from mentorship, guidance and professional support while strengthening their connections with potential production, financing and distribution partners.
⭐ 13 Projects in Development
The selected lineup includes 13 projects currently in development, covering feature fiction, feature documentaries and animation.
The development selection consists of:
- 🎥 10 feature fiction projects.
- 🎞️ Two feature documentary projects.
- 🎨 One feature animation project.
The selected filmmakers will benefit from a structured program designed to help them further develop their projects and prepare them for the next stages of production.
The program also focuses on refining artistic visions and developing project strategies, helping filmmakers present their work more effectively to selection panels and potential industry partners.
🎞️ Six Films in Post-Production
The ninth edition also includes six films currently in post-production, extending the program’s support beyond projects that are still in the development stage.
The six films are divided into:
- 🎬 Three feature fiction films.
- 🎥 Three feature documentary films.
Their participation is designed to support filmmakers as they move through the final stages of completing their projects and prepare strategies for the next phase of their cinematic journey.
The post-production stage is particularly important as filmmakers move closer to festival screenings, industry markets and potential distribution opportunities.
🇪🇬 Four Projects Selected for “Egyptian Voices”
In addition to the 19 projects and films across development and post-production, the program includes four projects in development selected for the “Egyptian Voices” program.
The program provides another pathway for supporting emerging filmmaking projects and giving creators access to professional guidance and mentorship.
The inclusion of these projects adds another dimension to the ninth edition, with the “Egyptian Voices” track focusing on projects that are still being developed and refined.
📋 More Than 310 Projects Submitted
The ninth edition of CineGouna for Film Production Support received more than 310 submissions from across the Arab world.
The final selection was based on a number of criteria designed to identify projects with strong artistic and production potential.
These criteria included the content submitted, artistic vision, participating talents, financial feasibility and the project’s potential for implementation.
The selection process therefore considers both the creative qualities of a project and its practical ability to move forward toward production.
🤝 Mentorship and Project Presentation Training
The selected projects will undergo an integrated program of mentorship and guidance sessions, alongside training designed to improve filmmakers’ ability to present their projects before selection panels.
The program also helps participants develop strategies tailored to their individual projects, allowing them to better understand their production needs and prepare for the stages ahead.
Support is not limited to artistic development. The program also aims to strengthen projects’ opportunities to connect with production, financing and distribution partners at both regional and international levels.
🌍 CineGouna Creates Opportunities for Industry Partnerships
Connecting filmmakers with potential production, financing and distribution partners is an important part of the support offered through the program.
After refining a project’s artistic vision and developing its strategy, filmmakers can present their work more effectively to industry professionals and explain its potential in a clear and professional way.
These opportunities can help selected projects strengthen their position within the regional and international film industry while benefiting from the expertise available through the program.
🎥 The Ninth Edition at El Gouna Film Festival 2026
The ninth edition of CineGouna for Film Production Support will take place alongside the 2026 El Gouna Film Festival, scheduled for October 15–23 in El Gouna.
The program will bring together filmmakers working on a diverse selection of projects chosen from hundreds of submissions from across the Arab world.
With projects represented at different stages of development and post-production, alongside the “Egyptian Voices” program, the ninth edition offers several pathways for supporting filmmakers throughout different phases of the filmmaking process.
✨ Continued Support for Arab Filmmakers
The selected projects for the ninth edition reflect the continued focus on providing development opportunities for filmmakers across the Arab world, whether they are working on early-stage concepts or films approaching completion.
Through mentorship sessions, project-presentation training and opportunities to connect with potential industry partners, participants can strengthen both the creative and production aspects of their work.
Attention will now turn to the selected projects during the upcoming El Gouna Film Festival and to the opportunities that their participation in CineGouna may create as they move closer to production, festival screenings and wider audiences.
💬 How important do you think film-support programs are for discovering new talent and helping promising projects reach production? 🎬💬
