The 2025 El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) has announced that filmmakers can submit their films. Now in its 8th edition, the festival, is scheduled to take place from October 16 to 24 in El Gouna, Egypt. Filmmakers from Africa and around the world are invited to submit work for consideration.
The submission window will remain open from April 1 until June 30. Participating films will compete for the El Gouna Star awards, with a total of US $234,000 in cash prizes to be distributed across the Feature Narrative Competition, Feature Documentary Competition, and Short Film Competition.
According to the organisers, “films addressing humanitarian themes can vie for the Cinema for Humanity Audience Award, while those focusing on environmental concerns are eligible for the El Gouna Green Star Award.”
Marianne Khoury, Artistic Director of GFF, expressed her enthusiasm for this year’s submissions, stating, “As we embark on the journey towards our 8th edition, I am particularly excited about the potential for discovering new cinematic voices and narratives.”
She added: “Each year brings a fresh wave of creativity, and we are deeply committed to providing a platform where emerging talents can shine alongside established filmmakers. We eagerly await the stories that will shape this year’s festival and invite filmmakers worldwide to share their unique perspectives with us.”
Amr Mansi, Executive Director of GFF, also shared: “The El Gouna Film Festival has established itself as a key event in the regional and international film calendar. As we look towards our 8th edition, our focus remains on curating a selection of impactful films and facilitating crucial industry discussions. We are driven by the desire to contribute to the growth and development of the film industry and eagerly anticipate the compelling narratives that will define this year’s festival.”
Filmmakers can submit their work through the official festival website, where they can also find the submission guidelines.
Established in 2017, the El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) is an annual film festival established held in the Red Sea resort town of El Gouna, Egypt. It is hosted by the El Gouna Convention and Culture Centre.
