El Gouna Film Festival: From the Red Carpet to the Sbsial!

Located in the Red Sea city of El Gouna, the El Gouna Film Festival annually weaves together Egyptian and Arab artistic tales, embodying authenticity and creativity on the red carpet. Arab cinematic voices converge to present themselves to the public and leave their mark on a constantly evolving global landscape.

The festival's first launch was in 2017, and it quickly transformed from a simple national event into an international platform of significant cultural and artistic weight, expressing the strength of Egyptian and Arab cinema and its ability to communicate with the world, presenting its authentic visions with high production quality, and providing a window into its global presence.

El Gouna: More than a festival El Gouna Film Festival is no longer just a film screening; it is an integrated platform for cinematic creativity, bringing together Arab and international filmmakers and opening the door to experimentation and innovation in a sophisticated artistic environment that encourages creators to push the boundaries of the ordinary.

Through workshops, production support, and professional meetings, the festival has become a pivotal player in nurturing the Arab film industry, transforming it into a sustainable project that enhances its presence on the global scene.

The role of El Gouna Film Festival in supporting talents and shaping the future One of the festival's key pillars is the CineGouna Platform, an initiative that aims to support new film projects in the development and production stages.

The platform allows young directors and emerging producers to present their ideas to an elite group of experts, investors, and decision-makers in the film industry.

This unique experience has resulted in dozens of Arab films participating in international festivals and receiving wide critical acclaim over the past editions.

In its 2025 edition, the festival will feature more than 70 films from 40 countries, including feature films, documentaries, and short films, under the slogan "Cinema for Humanity."

This year's festival focuses on food security issues within a social and humanitarian framework, emphasizing the role of cinema in stimulating discussion on issues of vital importance to societies.

El Gouna Film Festival also celebrates Palestinian cinema through its "Window on Palestine" program, which presents seven short documentaries about daily life in Gaza, conveying a profound artistic and humanitarian message.

In addition, Egyptian cinema has a strong presence, with a number of local productions participating in official competitions, continuing Egypt's pivotal role in enriching the film industry in the Arab world.

How does El Gouna Film Festival make art history and influence? El Gouna Film Festival treats cinema as both an art form and a message. It doesn't just offer visual pleasure, but also uses cinema as a tool for expression and influence.

His performances address issues of identity, society, and humanity, through stories that touch consciousness and raise questions.

In its eighth edition, the festival celebrates the centenary of the late director Youssef Chahine, who left behind an invaluable artistic legacy, reflecting the depth of the festival's cultural vision and reaffirming the role of Arab cinema in global human dialogue.

El Gouna Film Festival's activities are not limited to screenings alone, but also include workshops, interactive seminars, and panel discussions that bring together critics, audiences, and filmmakers in an open environment for dialogue and inspiration.

The workshops contribute to building visual and intellectual awareness among attendees, and open the door for young creatives to understand the mechanics of the film industry professionally, from writing to directing and distribution.

Technology and Creativity: When Art Meets Artificial Intelligence El Gouna Film Festival recognizes that the future of cinema will be inseparable from technology, which is why it places technology at the heart of its development.

In recent years, its activities have expanded to include specialized sessions on the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking, from script analysis to visual effects design and the development of intelligent editing tools.

The festival also dedicates space to extended reality (XR) experiences that allow audiences to interact with cinematic stories in an immersive and unconventional way.

These initiatives not only showcase new technologies, but also highlight the importance of art meeting innovation to develop a new cinematic language capable of keeping pace with the aspirations of Generation Z.

How do creators meet the audience at El Gouna Film Festival? What distinguishes the annual El Gouna Film Festival is that it is a meeting point between creatives and audiences, and a space that ignites dialogue between writers, directors, actors, producers, and photographers, to produce new artistic projects and forge long-term professional relationships.

Within the festival's halls, ideas converge, visions crystallize, and projects are born that reshape the Arab cinematic landscape. This interactive environment encourages collaboration and the exchange of expertise, and provides artists with a platform for professional and technical development.

In this context, CineGouna continues to support development and production projects during the current edition. More than 290 projects were supported at various stages, including 20 projects selected for screening at the festival.

The "Clapboard Again" initiative was also launched to support graduates of previous editions, enhancing the continuity of creative work in the Arab region.

Between the red carpet and the digital world: Where do creatives meet after the festival? When the red carpet is rolled out and the show lights go out, the most important question begins:

How do creators continue to connect with their audience after the festival?

This is where creative digital platforms come in, redefining the relationship between artist and audience, providing a new space for sharing inspiration and making an impact.

How does Sbsial represent the extension of El Gouna Film Festival into the digital world? Here, the Sbsial, which brings together celebrities , brands, and the public, emerges as a natural extension of the spirit of the El Gouna Film Festival, redefining the concept of artistic participation as follows:

An everlasting celebration of creativity: Allowing creators from all walks of life to showcase their work, whether it's short films, podcasts, artistic photos, or behind-the-scenes clips. Interactive Audience: The app allows audiences to interact directly with artists through likes, comments, and shares, creating a real-life connection similar to a festival atmosphere. Digital Outreach Opportunities: It provides advanced tools for content creation and sharing, giving Arab creators the opportunity to reach a wider audience without the need for intermediaries. Protection and Privacy: It places great importance on protecting users' rights, making it a safe environment for displaying work and self-expression. Download the Sbsial app now and share your vision with the world. Creativity isn't just displayed on screens, it's created every day.