El Gouna Film Festival 2026: Mona Zaki Honoured at 9th Edition
El Gouna Film Festival's ninth edition runs October 15 to 23 under the Cinema for Humanity theme, with a Career Achievement Award for actress Mona Zaki.
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The El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) returns for its ninth edition from October 15 to 23, 2026, on Egypt's Red Sea coast. Held under the theme "Cinema for Humanity", the festival will honour Egyptian actress Mona Zaki with its Career Achievement Award, according to BroadcastPro Middle East. The programme BroadcastPro reports that the ninth edition will feature more than 80 films across narrative, documentary and short formats. At the same press conference, artistic director Andrew Mohsen said the announced programme currently includes 53 films, with the overall selection expected to reach around 70, including a stronger presence of Arabic-language productions. The two figures appear in the same report, and the final total will be clearer once the full line-up is published. According to the festival's website, the opening film is All About Corrine by Marc Fitoussi, starring Isabelle Huppert and Sandrine Kiberlain. The Egyptian film Safe Exit is among the titles in competition. Mona Zaki's award BroadcastPro says the Career Achievement Award recognises Mona Zaki's contribution to film and television over more than two decades. She will also give a masterclass as part of the CineGouna Forum. A festival founded in 2017 GFF launched in 2017 and has sought to connect filmmakers from Egypt, the Middle East and Africa with the international film community. The programme was unveiled at a press conference attended by El Gouna founder and festival chairman Samih Sawiris, actress Yousra, El Gouna Red Sea CEO Mohamed Amer, co-founder and executive director Amr Mansi and Mohsen. "GFF started with a simple idea: many people have stories to tell, but have too often had those stories told for them," Sawiris said. "We are now at our ninth edition, and next year we reach ten. That is something I am very proud of." In August, GFF and the Zurich Film Festival signed a cooperation agreement covering knowledge sharing and film and talent exchange. CineGouna expands The festival's industry arm, CineGouna, has added several initiatives this year: CineGouna Series, a pilot programme for television projects, with six projects from the Arab world selected for its first edition. CineGouna Funding, which received more than 310 submissions, plus two new strands: Egyptian Voices, for Egyptian filmmakers, and Safe Harbor MENA, for filmmakers from the region who have been forcibly displaced or face risks. CineGouna Forum, with around 35 sessions on topics including storytelling rights, gender and the box office, and AI in cinema. CineGouna Market, with matchmaking sessions and technical masterclasses. CineGouna Emerge, which received more than 1,000 applications and selected 118 participants from 14 nationalities. Mansi highlighted the continuation of the Eish competition with the World Food Programme, which funds a short film about food security. The Sawiris Foundation will also launch the Sawiris Screenplay Lab. Accessibility BroadcastPro reports that GFF is working with the Sawiris Foundation and Together Inclusive to make the event accessible to attendees with disabilities. The festival plaza has been developed in line with international accessibility standards. Egypt's festival season El Gouna opens a busy period for Egyptian cinema. The 47th Cairo International Film Festival follows from November 11 to 20, with 145 films from 64 countries. Together the two festivals give regional filmmakers two major platforms within a few weeks. Explore more on our film and movies pages, and follow the awards season in our 99th Oscars coverage. Key facts Edition: ninth Dates: October 15–23, 2026 Theme: Cinema for Humanity Career Achievement Award: Mona Zaki Opening film: All About Corrine by Marc Fitoussi Films: 53 announced so far, with about 70 expected (artistic director Andrew Mohsen) What's next The festival runs from October 15 to 23, opening with All About Corrine. Mona Zaki receives her award during the festival, and the remaining film selections are expected to be announced as the programme moves towards Mohsen's target of around 70 titles. Sawiris has already looked ahead to the tenth edition in 2027. Sources: BroadcastPro ME | El Gouna Film Festival