El Gouna Film Festival Opens Submissions for Its 9th Edition

Submissions have opened for the 9th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival, scheduled to take place in El Gouna from October 15th to 23rd, 2026.

The call is open to filmmakers worldwide, with entries accepted across Feature Narrative, Documentary and Short Film competitions.

The submission deadline is June 30th, 2026. The festival said a total of USD 234,000 in cash prizes will be awarded across its competitive sections.

Additional honours include the Cinema for Humanity Audience Award and the El Gouna Green Star Award, which recognises films addressing environmental themes.

“As we open the doors to our 9th edition, my focus will be on new horizons of cinematic discovery,” Andrew Mohsen, Artistic Director, says. “We are looking for bold, original voices that challenge our perceptions and demand to be heard.”

Founded in 2017, the festival presents a curated selection of films from around the world and operates the CineGouna Platform, its industry arm focused on development, co-production and networking opportunities.

“GFF has grown into a vital bridge between regional talent and the international stage,” Amr Mansi, Co-founder and Executive Director, says. “We want filmmakers to walk away not just with an audience, but with new collaborators and expanded horizons.”

Submission guidelines and application details are available through the festival’s official website.