El Gouna Takeaways: ‘Safe Exit’ Wins Top Prize, Arab TV Seeks New Talent and Egyptian Filmmakers Push Boundaries

Mohammed Hammad’s psychological drama “Safe Exit” won the Golden Star for best narrative feature at the ninth El Gouna Film Festival, which ended after nine days. The festival’s awards and industry programmes highlighted Arab filmmakers’ work while drawing attention to the need for more routes to develop projects and sustain careers.

More than 320 projects applied for CineGouna Funding; 19 received over $350,000 across 40 awards, and participants held more than 140 industry meetings. The festival added a development lab for Arab television series and a programme for Egyptian filmmakers, while Safe Harbour MENA supported four filmmakers displaced within the region. “Citizen Osama”, whose director Ahmed Hassouna remains in Gaza, won both the documentary Golden Star and best Arab documentary.