🎬 Yousra Reveals the Other Side of El Gouna Film Festival Beyond the Red Carpet
As the ninth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival approaches, attention is once again turning to one of Egypt’s major cinematic events. While red-carpet appearances traditionally attract significant public attention, actress Yousra has emphasized that the festival represents a much broader cultural and professional platform. ✨🎬
During the press conference announcing the ninth edition, Yousra stressed that the festival should not be reduced to celebrity appearances and red-carpet moments. Behind the scenes, teams work throughout the year to prepare screenings, professional programs, educational activities and industry initiatives.
The ninth edition is scheduled to take place from October 15 to 23, 2026, continuing the festival’s expansion as both a cinematic and industry platform.
🌟 Mona Zaki to Receive the Creative Achievement Award
One of the major highlights of the upcoming edition will be the honoring of Egyptian actress Mona Zaki, who will receive the festival’s Creative Achievement Award.
The tribute recognizes her extensive career across Egyptian cinema, television and theater, as well as the variety of roles she has taken on throughout her career.
Yousra praised Zaki’s dedication to her craft and highlighted her continued efforts to develop her acting skills, making the tribute an important moment within the festival’s program. ❤️🎭
🎥 Yousry Nasrallah Masterclass
Another major event will be a masterclass with acclaimed Egyptian filmmaker Yousry Nasrallah.
Yousra spoke warmly about Nasrallah and her professional collaboration with him, highlighting his distinctive cinematic approach.
A masterclass of this kind gives filmmakers, students and cinema enthusiasts an opportunity to engage directly with an established director and explore the creative decisions behind filmmaking, storytelling and character development.
This is one of the elements that demonstrates how El Gouna aims to create conversations around cinema rather than simply screen finished films. 🎬💡
🕊️ Remembering Mohamed Khan
The ninth edition will also pay tribute to the legacy of late Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Khan, marking ten years since his death.
Khan remains an important figure in Egyptian cinema, particularly for his focus on ordinary people, everyday life and deeply human stories.
Yousra also recalled her own experience working with Khan, adding a personal dimension to the festival’s tribute.
The celebration of his work forms part of the festival’s broader effort to reconnect contemporary audiences with influential figures from the history of Egyptian cinema. 🎞️❤️
🎞️ A Diverse Film Program
Beyond tributes and masterclasses, the festival features a broad cinematic program, including competitions for feature narrative films, feature documentaries and short films, alongside non-competition screenings and special programs.
The festival has already announced an initial selection of films for the ninth edition, bringing together established filmmakers and emerging voices from different parts of the world.
This variety allows audiences to discover films outside the mainstream commercial circuit while engaging with different artistic, cultural and human perspectives.
🌱 Cinema, Humanity and the Environment
The festival also continues its focus on films addressing environmental issues through the El Gouna Green Star Award.
Another important element is the Cinema for Humanity Audience Award, which highlights films with strong human themes.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate an effort to connect cinema with wider social, environmental and cultural questions. 🌍🎥
💼 CineGouna: The Industry Platform Behind the Festival
One of the strongest examples of the festival’s professional dimension is CineGouna, its industry platform dedicated to supporting filmmakers and developing new projects.
The platform includes film funding, a filmmakers’ forum, a film market, a talent program and the newly introduced CineGouna Series initiative.
The inaugural CineGouna Series round selected six projects from 165 applications, giving emerging Arab writers an opportunity to develop their projects and present them to industry professionals, producers and decision-makers.
CineGouna Funding also supports Arab feature narrative and documentary projects in development and post-production, with financial and professional awards totaling more than $300,000 in the current edition.
🌍 Connecting Arab Cinema With the World
The festival’s growing industry activities aim to connect Arab filmmakers with international partners, producers, distributors and cinema professionals.
The ninth edition also comes amid new international collaborations, including a strategic partnership between El Gouna Film Festival and the Zurich Film Festival.
Such partnerships expand opportunities for cultural exchange and professional cooperation beyond Egypt and the Arab region.
✨ El Gouna Is More Than a Red Carpet
Yousra’s comments highlight a broader aspect of the festival that can sometimes be overshadowed by celebrity appearances.
The red carpet may be the most visible part of the event, but screenings, discussions, masterclasses, professional meetings, funding programs and talent development form a substantial part of the festival’s identity.
As the ninth edition approaches, the focus is therefore not only on who will appear on the red carpet, but also on the films audiences will discover, the filmmakers who will find new opportunities and the projects that may move closer to production. 🎬🔥
💬 What are you most excited to follow at El Gouna Film Festival 2026: Mona Zaki’s tribute, Yousry Nasrallah’s masterclass or the celebration of Mohamed Khan’s legacy?
