EL GOUNA, Egypt — The El Gouna Film Festival has unveiled a new visual identity ahead of its ninth edition, alongside plans to expand its role beyond the annual event into a year-round cultural platform, while naming Egyptian actress Mona Zaki as recipient of its Creative Achievement Award.
The festival will run from October 15 to 23, 2026, bringing together filmmakers, actors and industry professionals from Egypt, the Arab world and international markets.
Festival organisers said the redesigned identity reflects a broader strategy to extend El Gouna’s cultural and industry activities throughout the year rather than concentrating them around the nine-day festival.
Zaki will receive the award during the opening ceremony in recognition of a career spanning more than three decades across cinema, television and theatre.
The festival cited the range of her work and her continued exploration of different characters and perspectives across stage and screen.
Separately, streaming platform Shahid has released the first teaser poster for Zaki’s upcoming drama “Tale’ Nazel,” directed by Hany Khalifa and written by Samaa Ahmed Abdel Khaleq and Engy El Kassem.
The series also stars Mohamed Shahin, Mariam El Khosht, Mimi Gamal, Leila Ezz El Arab and Hamza Diab. Shahid has listed the production as coming soon, without announcing a release date.
