El Gouna Film Festival Sets 2026 Dates
The festival's ninth edition runs 15-23 October 2026 in El Gouna, with USD 234,000 in prizes across its feature narrative, documentary and short film competitions.
30 July 2026
The El Gouna Film Festival will hold its ninth edition from 15 to 23 October 2026 in the Red Sea resort town, according to CairoScene.
Submissions for the 2026 edition were open to filmmakers worldwide across three competitive sections — Feature Narrative, Documentary and Short Film — with a deadline of 30 June, CairoScene reported.
A total of USD 234,000 in cash prizes will be awarded across the competitive sections, per the report. Films will also contend for the Cinema for Humanity Audience Award and the El Gouna Green Star Award, which recognises work addressing environmental themes.
Artistic director Andrew Mohsen said his focus for the ninth edition is on new horizons of cinematic discovery, with the festival looking for bold, original voices, according to CairoScene.
Co-founder and executive director Amr Mansi said the festival has grown into a bridge between regional talent and the international stage, and that he wants filmmakers to leave with new collaborators as well as an audience, the outlet reported.
Founded in 2017, the festival also runs the CineGouna Platform, its industry arm focused on development, co-production and networking, CairoScene noted.