The eighth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival opened its doors last night with a ceremony that shimmered with both glamour and heartfelt emotion.
#مهرجان_الجونة_السينمائي بدأ pic.twitter.com/undNTdbKhE
— Ahmed Aboulyazeed (@AAboulyazeed) October 16, 2025
The evening began with a moving tribute video honoring artists who have passed away, reminding everyone of the beauty and endurance of art that defies time.
The video celebrated beloved figures such as Samihah Ayoub, Lotfy Labib, Suleiman Eid, Samah Abdel Aziz, and Taimour Taimour, drawing a standing ovation from the audience who watched with reverence and nostalgia.
In a deeply emotional moment, Egyptian star Menna Shalaby received the Creative Achievement Award in recognition of her remarkable career and enduring impact on Arab cinema.
The award was presented by Yousra, who embraced Shalaby warmly on stage, a gesture that embodied mutual love and respect between two generations of Egyptian cinema.
Fighting back tears, Shalaby said she had dreamed of receiving an invitation from a film festival with her name on it since she was 25 years old.
تكريم #منة_شلبي من #مهرجان_الجونة_السينمائي.. #يسرا تمنحها جائزة الإنجاز الإبداعى..الفنانة الشابة قبلت يدها وأهدت تكريمها لوالدتها وللمخرج رضوان الكاشف pic.twitter.com/ZUKuYa25Z4
— Arabian Crave (@ArabianCrave) October 16, 2025
“I’m lucky to have worked with greats like Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, Mahmoud Hemida, Elham Shaheen, and Laila Eloui,” she added, dedicating her award to her mother and the late director Radwan El Kashif.
♨️ يسرا تتدخل بسرعة لتساعد منة شلبي بعد أن انفتح فستانها بموقف محرج على المسرح أثناء تسلّمها الجائزة في مهرجان الجونة السينمائي pic.twitter.com/iXBZ3jDtSO
— ET بالعربي (@ETbilArabi) October 16, 2025
The festival also honored Academy Award–winning actress Cate Blanchett, who attended as the Guest of Honor.
Blanchett received the “Hero of Humanity Award”, celebrating not only her artistic brilliance but also her humanitarian efforts and advocacy for global causes.
This year’s edition of El Gouna Film Festival presents around 70 films from across the globe, including feature narratives, documentaries, and short films.
إطلالات ملفتة لـ مرام علي، نيللي كريم، صبا مبارك، بلقيس، رزان جمال، تارا عماد، مايان السيد، ركين سعد وغيرهم من النجمات على السجادة الحمراء لـ #مهرجان_الجونة_السينمائي 🤩 pic.twitter.com/c69UVumHlD
— ET بالعربي (@ETbilArabi) October 16, 2025
Egyptian cinema holds a strong presence with five films competing across various sections, in addition to the opening film Happy Birthday and the special premiere of The Gentlemen, which will be released in theatres nationwide on October 22.
The festival’s juries bring together an impressive lineup of international and regional figures.
Laila Elwi chairs the Feature Narrative Competition Jury, alongside Giona Nazzaro, Rashid Masharawi, Kani Kusruti, and Nahuel Pérez Biscayart.
French filmmaker Nicolas Philibert heads the Documentary Competition, while Mahdi Fleifel leads the Short Film Jury. Other committees include the Green Star Award Jury, chaired by Jana Wahba, and the FIPRESCI Critics Jury, which includes Omnia Adel and Pamela Cohen.
In her opening remarks, Marianne Khoury, the festival’s Artistic Director, expressed her pride in seeing El Gouna continue to flourish despite challenges, emphasizing that cinema remains “a human voice in the face of reality’s harshness.”
إطلالات النجوم في افتتاح مهرجان الجنوة السينمائي الدولي 2025#سناكس_سوشال #مهرجان_الجونة_السينمائي#SNAX #GFF pic.twitter.com/2SXcsgTeVC
— SNAX (@SkyNewsArabia_S) October 16, 2025
She highlighted the revival of the program A Window on Palestine, which offers filmmakers from Gaza a platform to transform pain into art — affirming that “art cannot be occupied, and dreams remain possible no matter the circumstances.”
Khoury also celebrated the legacy of Yousra, describing her as “an artist and humanitarian whose influence transcends the screen.”
The ceremony further paid homage to Youssef Chahine on his centennial, screening Alexandria Again and Forever to honor his cinematic philosophy that love is the driving force of humanity.
Adding a touch of humor to the night, comedian Taha Desouki performed a satirical stand-up routine that lightened the mood.
#طه_دسوقي يقدم فقرة ستاند أب كوميدي فى افتتاح الدورة الثامنة لـ #مهرجان_الجونة#زوايا pic.twitter.com/X3WlMksoty
— Zwaya News (@Zwaya_news) October 16, 2025
With witty commentary on social media and the art world, he joked about his own career transition from stand-up comedy to acting, drawing laughter from the crowd before tossing off his jacket to move freely on stage.
Festival co-founder and CEO Amr Mansi welcomed guests with words that reflected both pride and gratitude:
“It’s an honor to celebrate together the start of this new edition of El Gouna Film Festival,” he said.
“When we began planning its return this year, we hoped it would coincide with a meaningful moment for Egypt, and it has. Between the Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh and the Grand Egyptian Museum’s grand opening, this edition reminds us that art and culture always find their rightful moment.”
Mansi added that this year’s edition embodies “the spirit of creativity and renewal,” featuring films that have won the Palme d’Or, Golden Lion, and Golden Bear, as well as five official Oscar submissions.
He also highlighted the festival’s ongoing partnership with Netflix, which will screen Frankenstein during the event, and reaffirmed the CineGouna Platform’s continued support for young Arab filmmakers, having received over 290 submissions, the highest in its history.
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