The Supreme Committee of the “Gيلنا” Festival is preparing for the launch of the third edition of its short film and photography competition, under the slogan “Art for Life.” The new edition aims to support young talents and encourage them to create works that carry meaningful humanitarian and social messages.
The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, under the patronage of the Egyptian Catholic Center for Cinema and SAT-7, with the participation of a number of artists and photographers, along with honors for several artistic and creative figures.
“Gيلنا” Raises the Slogan “Art for Life” 🎬
The third edition of the festival comes as part of the organizers’ efforts to encourage young people to use art as a means of expressing humanitarian and social issues, rather than viewing it solely as a field for creativity and competition.
The festival seeks to promote the concept of shared humanity and emphasize the importance of individual and collective responsibility toward society. It also aims to raise awareness of issues that concern young people, including psychological challenges and entrepreneurship.
Through its competitions, the festival provides young talents in short filmmaking and photography with a space to present their own perspectives on the issues around them and transform ideas and experiences into artistic works that can inspire discussion and interaction.
An Edition Named After Abdel Rahman Abu Zahra and Hany Shenouda ❤️
The third edition is named after late actor Abdel Rahman Abu Zahra and late musician Hany Shenouda, in recognition of their careers and their contributions to Egyptian art over many years.
Choosing their names for the new edition provides an opportunity to recall artistic legacies that were connected to different generations, while at the same time giving young people a platform to express their own views on society and life through their work.
Honoring artistic icons as part of the festival also reflects the importance of connecting generations and benefiting from the experiences of artists who left their mark in their respective fields, while opening opportunities for new talents to emerge and develop.
Intensive Preparations for the Third Edition 📢
The festival’s Supreme Committee held a number of meetings to discuss the final preparations for the third edition. The committee is headed by Father Boutros Daniel and includes Refik George, Osama Eissa, Magdy Sami, and Michel Maher.
The preparations include arrangements for the opening ceremony and the festival’s competitions, as well as plans to honor a number of artists and creative figures participating in the new edition.
The preparations come as the festival gets ready for a new edition focused primarily on young people and their ability to express their ideas through cinema and photography.
Stars Among the Honorees ⭐
The opening ceremony of the third edition will honor a number of artists and creative figures, including actress Nour, actress Dorra, actor Mohamed Mahmoud, and actress Salma Abu Deif.
The list of honorees also includes actor Mostafa Khater, Michel Milad, Moataz Hesham, and Maurice Mody, along with director Sherif Mandour.
The honors will also include photojournalists Mohamed Bakr and Khaled El-Dosouky, recognizing the role of photography and photojournalism as important parts of the creative landscape.
“Gيلنا”.. A Space for Young Talents ✨
The importance of the new edition goes beyond the names being honored. It also lies in the festival’s central goal of giving young people a genuine opportunity to express themselves through art.
The short film and photography competitions provide participants with spaces to present their ideas and perspectives on humanitarian and social issues, while highlighting the ability of art to create opportunities for dialogue and awareness.
As the opening ceremony approaches, attention is turning toward the third edition of “Gيلنا,” which brings together tributes to artistic and creative figures, support for young talents, and discussions of issues connected to society and the challenges facing new generations.
What do you think of the “Gيلنا” Festival’s idea of encouraging young people to address humanitarian and social issues through art? 🎬⭐
