The 9th El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt closed on Friday, October 23, 2026, after nine days, with top honours going to a home-grown drama. Safe Exit, directed by Egyptian director Mohamed Hammad, won the Golden Star for Best Feature, worth $50,000.
The psychological drama follows a young Coptic security guard in Cairo confronting trauma. The Silver Star, worth $25,000, went to All the Lovers in the Night by Japanese director Yukiko Sode, while the Bronze Star, worth $15,000, went to A Little Light by Ali Asgari.
In the documentary competition, the Golden Star, worth $30,000, went to Citizen Osama by Ahmed Hassouna, described as Palestine’s Oscar entry, while the short film Golden Star, worth $15,000, went to Stolen Memories. Rakeen Saad won Best Actress for Boomah, and Jovan Ginić won Best Actor for 3 Weeks After.
The festival’s industry arm also drew attention: CineGouna Funding received more than 320 project applications, with 19 selected projects receiving over $350,000 across 40 awards, alongside more than 140 one-on-one meetings.
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Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.