Get to Know 2025 El Gouna Film Festival Winners

On Friday, the 8th El Gouna Film Festival closes with a prestigious closing ceremony and the announcement of the winners. 

Feature Narrative Competition

Golden El Gouna Star (Best Narrative Feature): Poet – directed by Misa Soto

Silver El Gouna Star: The Lucky One – directed by Choi Lloyd Lee

Bronze El Gouna Star: The Colony – directed by Mohamed Rashad (Egypt)

Best Arab Narrative Film: Where the Wind Takes Us – directed by Amal El Qalti

Best Actress: Lea Drucker for her role in For Adam – directed by Laura Wandel

Best Actor: Ahmed Malek for his performance in Colonia – directed by Mohamed Siam

Special Mention: The Pilgrimage – directed by Kayal Simon

Cinema for Humanity Award (Audience Choice)

Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk – directed by Sepideh Farsi

Happy Birthday – directed by Sara Gouhar (Egypt)

Documentary Competition

Golden El Gouna Star (Best Documentary): Always – directed by Deming Chen

Bronze El Gouna Star: Orwell: 2 + 2 = 5 – directed by Raoul Peck

Best Arab Documentary Film: Life After Seham – directed by Namir Abdel Messeeh (Egypt)

Special Mention: How to Build a Library – directed by Maya Likho & Christopher King

Short Film Competition

Golden El Gouna Star: Agapito – directed by Kayal Daniel Romero & Ervin Balermino

Silver El Gouna Star: Lwens – directed by Dorian Jespers

Bronze El Gouna Star: The Water Girl – directed by Sandra Demaizière

Best Arab Short Film: The Devil and the Bicycle – directed by Sharon Hakim

Green El Gouna Star (Environmental Award): Seeds – directed by Brittany Shine

Special Honors & Recognitions

The closing ceremony also honored festival veteran Intishal Al-Tamimi, who previously served as the Festival Director before joining the El Gouna Film Festival International Advisory Board.

The Creative Achievement Award went to acclaimed Egyptian actress Mona Shalaby, recognizing her outstanding contributions to Egyptian and Arab cinema.

International guest of honor Cate Blanchett was presented with the “Humanitarian Hero” Award, celebrating her artistic excellence and humanitarian efforts.

Festival Highlights

The 8th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival showcased a wide range of international cinema — feature films, documentaries, and shorts — with five Egyptian films competing across categories, including the opening film “Happy Birthday.”

The festival also hosted a special screening of The Gentlemen (Al-Sada Al-Afadel) with the presence of its cast and crew.

Juries

Feature Narrative Jury: Chaired by Laila Eloui, with Giona Nazzaro, Rashid Masharawi, Kani Kusruti, and Nahuel Pérez Biscayart.

Documentary Jury: Chaired by Nicolas Philibert, featuring Asmaa El Modir, Sona Karaboghosian, Mohamed Saeed Ouma, and Hala Galal.

Short Film Jury: Chaired by Mahdi Fleifel, with Andrea Gatopoulos, Juliette Cano, Souad Bushnaq, and Mostafa El Kashif.

Green Star Jury: Jana Wahba, Mai El Gheity, and Niklas Engström.