The 8th edition of El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) will open this October 16 featuring 10 AFAC-supported films in its screening line-up. Through their works, filmmakers, both emerging and seasoned, broach themes like corruption, loss and the disillusionment of Arab youths, placing young men and women at the heart of their storylines. These compelling narratives amplify “cinema’s power to reflect human experiences and foster understanding across borders”1.
Following its world premiere at the Berlinale earlier this year, The Settlement by Mohamed Rashad (Egypt) will participate in the festival’s Feature Narrative Competition. Through the story of 23-year old Hossam, the film addresses loss and corruption.
Taking part in the same section of the festival is Where the Winds Come From by Amel Guellaty (Tunisia), a comedic ode to Tunisia’s youth that showcases the cross-country journey of rebellious Alyssa (19) and introvert Mehdi (23) in an attempt to escape their reality.
Under the Feature Documentary Competition, make sure to catch Life After Siham by Namir Abdel Messeeh (Egypt), where Namir himself - a filmmaker suffering from creative block - decides to revive his mother Siham’s memory through the medium of film.
Two short films will also compete at GFF: Of Burning Memories and Wounds by Soha Belal (Egypt), funded through the AFAC and Netflix initiative, ‘Women in Film - Bring Your Story to Life’. It will be holding its world premiere at GFF under the Short Films Competition section. The other film competing under the same GFF section is Ambush by Yassmina Karajah (Jordan). While the former confronts two generational mindsets through the stories of Anise (70) and her caregiver Noura (30), the latter follows young Hassan and Jana as they confront the impossibility of desire.
Another five AFAC-supported films in the making will take part in the GFF CineGouna Funding platform, where their directors will pitch to the panel: Disappeared by Anas Zawahri (Syria); The Salt of the South by Rami Jarboui (Tunisia); American Dream by Amir El Shennawy (Egypt); Concrete Land by Asmahan Brekat (Jordan); and I Am One of Them by Nadim Suleiman (Syria).
For more information and the screening schedule, please visit the GFF website.
1 As cited in the press release of the El Gouna Film Festival, dated September 16, 2025, on the festival’s official website.