This year marked a transformative expansion of the CineGouna Emerge initiative, which has grown into an inclusive umbrella for El Gouna Film Festival’s programs dedicated to nurturing both aspiring and established talents. With the launch of two new programs— Emerge: Rising Stars and Emerge: Perspectives, along with the SeeMe track—the festival's 7th edition offered a wider range of opportunities than ever before for aspiring filmmakers, media professionals, and creatives to engage with the industry, connect with experts, and gain meaningful exposure. In addition, CineGouna Emerge hosted a special children’s screening at El Gouna School, in an effort to instil a love of cinema in young audiences and foster an early appreciation for storytelling.

The flagship CineGouna Emerge Program hosted in partnership with the Drosos Foundation, the European Union in Egypt, and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development welcomed 150 young filmmakers and film professionals from across Egypt to El Gouna to to immerse themselves in the festival experience——many of them attending for the very first time. Participants engaged with a vibrant program that included film screenings, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with filmmakers from around the world. As part of an initiative to encourage  critical thinking and active engagement with cinema, the participants voted for their favorite films, culminating  in three awards:

• The Drosos Foundation Emerge Award for Best Short Film was awarded to An Orange from Jaffa(Palestine) by Mohammed Al Mughanni with a prize of  US $1,000

• The European Union in Egypt Emerge Award for Best Feature Documentary was awarded to  to A Brink of Dreams (Egypt) by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir with a prize of US $1,000

• The Sawiris Foundation Emerge Award for Best Feature Narrative was awarded  to Girls Will Be Girls (India) by Shuchi Talati with a prize of US $1,000.

Three participants in the Emerge program - Nihal Samy, Essam Hayder, Hoda Samir - who took part in the voting process were also entered into a lottery and received prizes from the French Embassy in Egypt and French Institute in Egypt, with prizes worth 600 EUR each.

"These awards provide a meaningful way for participants to actively engage with the festival giving them a voice in recognizing outstanding work," said Hayat Aljowaily, Head of CineGouna Emerge.

This year also featured the inaugural edition of the Rising Stars Program, which celebrates a new generation of talented filmmakers. The seven selected participants were invited to showcase their work at the festival, where they presented their latest short films in intimate screening sessions. They also took part in one-on-one meetings with filmmakers, producers, and industry experts. A special highlight was a well-attended panel discussion, where each rising star introduced themselves to the festival audience, drawing a full house of eager attendees. "It’s a joy to witness these rising filmmakers step into the spotlight and make their mark on the festival," commented Marianne Khoury, Artistic Director of El Gouna Film Festival. "Their fresh stories and perspectives bring new energy to the industry."