This evening, the seventh edition of the El Gouna Film Festival was launched with a remarkable opening ceremony attended by a distinguished array of stars and filmmakers from around the world. The festival will run until November 1, and it has established itself as one of the premier cinematic events in the region, aiming to support and enhance the film industry in Egypt and beyond.

The opening ceremony was graced by several prominent figures, including Engineer Naguib Sawiris, founder of the festival and Chairman of Orascom Investment Holding, Engineer Samih Sawiris, founder of El Gouna and Chairman of the festival, and the esteemed actress Youssra, a member of the festival’s International Advisory Board. Also present were Engineer Omar El Hamamsy, CEO of Orascom Development Holding, Amr Mansy, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the festival, and the renowned director Marianne Khoury, Artistic Director of the festival.

The ceremony commenced at 8:30 PM with the unveiling of the festival's logo, followed by the national anthem. Ahmed El-Ghandour, known as "El Da7ee7," presented a special segment that added a playful and entertaining touch to the event, discussing the history of cinema in his comedic style, followed by a short film titled "The Origin of the Story" was screened, followed by a special theatrical segment.

The ceremony was hosted by actors Basma and Sedky Saker, who welcomed the audience and introduced the official sponsors. It witnessed a musical medley performance by the stars Mohamed El-Sharnouby, Nouran Abu Taleb, and Hana Youssry, where they revived a group of the most famous songs of Egyptian cinema, with distribution by Maher El-Malakh.

In a touching humanitarian gesture, a video titled "In Memory of the Departed" was presented to honor cinematic figures who have passed away. Director Inas El Degheidy delivered a special speech, followed by a tribute video for the esteemed actor Mahmoud Hamida, who received the "Creative Achievement Award" in recognition of his remarkable artistic journey and significant contributions to Arab cinema. Lebanese directors and writers Joanna Hadji and Khalil George were also honored for their works that blend imagination and creativity, addressing deep historical and social narratives.

In his speech during the ceremony, Mahmoud Hamida remarked on receiving the "Creative Achievement Award" from the El Gouna Festival. Hemeida said "I want to thank Yousra, Lebleba, Elham Shaheen, and Hussein Fahmy. I'm especially happy today because I had always dreamed of establishing a film festival in Marsa Alam, but couldn't achieve it. Naguib and Samih Sawiris, driven by their passion for cinema, made this dream a reality. I am looking forward to more editions of GFF."

Engineer Naguib Sawiris emphasized: "We are here today to affirm that cinema is not merely entertainment, but a genuine tool for change and human connection. Through the El Gouna Festival, we open doors for creativity and enhance cultural dialogue."

Engineer Samih Sawiris stated: "The El Gouna Film Festival is more than just an artistic event; it embodies our dream of creating a community that brings together artists and creatives from around the world, where art and culture intertwine to foster deeper understanding between nations."

Amr Mansy, Executive Director of the El Gouna Festival, noted: "Over the past years, the El Gouna International Film Festival has become a platform and a mirror for the humanitarian issues that affect us all. Today, we embark on the seventh edition of the festival after much effort from our entire team to deliver a true cinematic experience. I also extend my greetings to the Lebanese people, confident in their resilience to overcome this hardship."

Marianne Khoury, Artistic Director of the festival, expressed: "I am proud to launch the seventh edition despite the numerous challenges facing the festival industry in Egypt and the Arab world. Our festival management has managed to bring the latest cinematic productions from around the globe, featuring a balanced program of 83 films from 48 countries, including feature films, documentaries, and short films. Additionally, 43% of the feature-length documentaries and fiction films are directed by women, and 33% represent the debut and second films of their directors."

Governor of the Red Sea, Major General Amr Hanafy, officially inaugurated the festival.

The festival also announced the juries responsible for each category of the official competition, including Nandita Das (India), Charles Tesson (France), Sibel Kekilli (Germany), Sofia Djama (Algeria), Menna Shalaby (Egypt), Eliane Raheb (Lebanon), Hicham Falah (Morocco), Jérôme Paillard (France) Nejib Belkadhi (Tunisia), Steffi Niederzoll (Germany), Amina Khalil (Egypt), Amir El-Masry (Egypt), Lina Soualem (France/Palestine/Algeria), Sam Manacsa (Philippines), Rakeen Saad (Jordan).

The 7th edition of GFF is held in partnership with Orascom Development and its destinations, O West and Makadi Heights. The festival is sponsored by leading entities, including, Cairo Design District CDD as the Official Art and Design Partner, Abou Ghaly Motors as the official Transportation partner, ON TV as the Principal Media Partner, BMW as the Official Automotive Partner, Orange as the Official Telecom Partner, CIB as the Official Banking Partner, Pepsi as the Official Beverage Partner, Concrete as the Official Fashion Partner, seven as the Official Consumer Finance Partner, EgyptAir as the Official Carrier, alongside our other valued Partners, Mohamed Al-Sagheer as Official Beauty Partner, TicketEgypt as Official Ticketing Partner, in collaboration with Impact BBDO. The festival is organized under the auspices of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Culture, and organized by Ievents.

The festival appreciates the support and collaboration from the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Promotion, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, with organization by iEvents. It also features distinguished partners such as Ticket Egypt and Impact BBDO, alongside Mohamed El Soghair as the official beauty partner.

The El Gouna Film Festival stands out as a prominent platform celebrating the seventh art, continuously attracting the attention of cinema enthusiasts from around the globe, affirming its status as an unmissable annual event.