Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) in Switzerland and El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) in Egypt have announced a strategic partnership to collaborate on programming and other joint initiatives. The alliance aims to strengthen ties between European and Middle Eastern/African film industries, giving ZFF greater access to the region while GFF benefits from ZFF's logistical expertise and international connections, according to festival leaders.

The partnership launches with the world premiere of the documentary "Dolphins: My Close Encounters" at ZFF's 22nd edition, running from 24 September to 4 October, before the film receives its MENA premiere at GFF, held from 15 to 26 October near the Red Sea coastline where the documentary's subject, marine biologist Angela Ziltener, conducted her research. ZFF, which drew 135,000 visitors in 2025 and is the second-largest festival in the German-speaking world, underwent a management buyout led by CEO Christian Jungen in 2025. GFF, founded in 2017 by Egyptian tycoons Naguib and Samih Sawiris in the Red Sea resort of El Gouna, has become a key fixture on the MENA festival calendar.