This year’s selection ranges from intimate documentaries to bold narratives that confront patriarchal norms, social struggles and the intricacies of family life.

Lunary Sabry

Sep 08, 2025

Six Egyptian Films Selected for El Gouna Film Festival

El Gouna Film Festival has unveiled the six Egyptian titles set to screen in its eighth edition, running from October 24th to November 1st. This year’s selection ranges from intimate documentaries to bold narratives that confront patriarchal norms, social struggles and the intricacies of family life.

My Father's Scent | Dir. Mohamed Siam - Feature Narrative Competition

Starring Ahmed Malek, ‘My Father’s Scent’ is a father-son story challenging family values and dynamics. It spotlights the burdensome of navigating a patriarchal society that normalises and glorifies toxic masculinity. The film raises this question: If each of us who has lost a loved one could spend a final night with them, would we settle old scores or mend broken bridges?

The Settlement | Dir. Mohamed Rashad - Feature Narrative Competition

‘The Settlement’ follows the story of two brothers who had to take responsibility for the family after their father’s death. They were offered a job at the factory where the father used to work, only to discover that maybe their father’s death was not accidental - and they may have been working alongside the man who murdered him.

50 Meters | Dir. Yomna Khattab - Feature Documentary Competition

‘50 Meters’ marks screenwriter and director Youmna Khattab’s debut feature. The self-reflective documentary follows Khattab and her father through a journey set in the waters of a community swimming pool in Cairo. Using filmmaking as a way to reconnect with her distant father, Khattab reflects on themes of career, parenthood, and mortality while navigating their relationship.

Life After Siham | Dir. Namir Abdel Messeeh - Feature Documentary Competition

‘Life After Siham’ follows the story of a child grappling with the concept of mortality after his mother’s death. Unable to comprehend the permanence of her absence, he sets out to keep her memory alive by tracing his family’s history across Egypt and France, with the cinema of Youssef Chahine serving as his guide and companion along the journey.

Love Imagined | Dir. Sarah Rozik - Official Selection Out of Competition

Starring Ahmed El Saadany, Mayan El Sayed and Omar Rozeik, this comedy-romance film tells the story of a university professor who avoids relationships with others, except within very narrow limits - until he gets into an entanglement that forces him to choose between his mind and heart.

Happy Birthday | Dir. Sarah Goher - Opening Film

Co-written by Sarah Gohar and Mohamed Diab, ‘Happy Birthday’ follows the story of eight year-old Toha who has never celebrated her birthday yet she goes out of her way to make sure her friend Nelly, the daughter of her wealthy employer, has a successful party. The film, starring Nelly Karim and Hanan Motawie, exposes the issue of child domestic labour and classism in modern-day Cairo. The film was recently chosen to represent Egypt at the 2025 Oscars.

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