EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS FIRST 12 TITLES FOR ITS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED 8TH EDITION

EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS FIRST 12 TITLES FOR ITS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED 8TH EDIT

El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) has just announced the first 13 films selected to be screened at its 8th edition (October 16 - 24, 2025), offering an exclusive look at a program filled with critically acclaimed works from both established and emerging filmmakers.

“We are incredibly proud of the carefully curated program that will be presented, with each film contributing to a rich tapestry of stories from around the world. The festival is a platform for dialogue and discovery, and we are confident that this initial selection will resonate deeply with our audience.” said Marianne Khoury, Artistic Director, GFF.

The first 12 titles announced are:

1. IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

Jafar Panahi | Iran, France, Luxembourg | Persian

This Palme d'or-winning film by the maestro Jafar Panahi chronicles a minor accident that sets in motion a series of escalating consequences.

2. SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Joachim Trier | Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, France | Danish, English

This film explores the deeply intertwined lives of two sisters, an established actress and her younger sister who has chosen family life, as they confront their past when their estranged filmmaker father returns. It received the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is directed by Joachim Trier, whose acclaimed film, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, was also screened at the 2021 GFF.

3. DREAMS (SEX LOVE)

Dag Johan Haugerud | Norway | Norwegian

This film follows Johanne, who falls in love for the first time with her teacher and documents her experiences in writing. It won the Golden Bear and FIPRESCI Prize at the Berlinale.

4. BLUE MOON

Richard Linklater | United States, Ireland | English

This film unfolds in real-time on the evening of March 31, 1943, telling the story of legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart bravely facing the future as his professional and private life unravel. It was a Berlinale selection and won a Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance for actor Andrew Scott.

5. BETTER GO MAD IN THE WILD (Documentary)

Miro Remo | Czech Republic, Slovakia | Czech

This film chronicles the unraveling bond between wilderness twins, exploring themes of separation and reconciliation. It received the Grand Prix at the Karlovy Vary IFF.

6. RESURRECTION

Bi Gan | China, France | Chinese, Mandarin

In a world where humanity has lost the ability to dream, a monster clings to the fading illusions of the dreamworld until a woman appears with the rare power to perceive these illusions for what they truly are. The film won the Special Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

7. SOUND OF FALLING

Mascha Schilnski | Germany | German

Four girls, separated by a century, each spend their youth on the same farm, and as the home evolves, their lives begin to mirror each other. This film was a joint winner of the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

8. THE DEVIL SMOKES (AND SAVES THE BURNT MATCHES IN THE SAME BOX) 

Ernesto Martínez Bucio | Mexico | Spanish 

The fears of five stoic young siblings, abandoned by their parents, mix with those of their schizophrenic grandmother, blurring and gradually dissolving the boundary between reality and imagination. This first feature won the Best First Feature Award Berlinale. Perspectives.

9. ALWAYS (Documentary)

Deming Chen | United States, France, China | Chinese, Chinese Regional Dialects

An allegory for the loss of innocence, this film follows Gong Youbin, a young Chinese man who embarks on an emotional journey through poetry. It was a First Feature that won the DOX:AWARD at CPH:DOX.

10. ORWELL: 2+2=5 (Documentary)

Raoul Peck | United States, France | English

Directed by Raoul Peck, whose acclaimed documentary I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO was screened at the 2017 GFF, this urgent documentary delves into the final months of George Orwell's life. It explores the relevance of his masterpiece 1984, and disturbing sociopolitical truths such as Doublethink and Newspeak which resonate ever-more powerfully today.

11. A POET

Simón Mesa Soto| Colombia, Germany, Sweden | Spanish 

This film tells the story of an aging, erratic poet who finds new light in his life by helping a teenage girl from humble roots cultivate her own talent. This second feature received the Jury Prize of Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival.

12. ADAM'S SAKE

Laura Wandel | Belgium, France | French 

A story of a pediatric nurse who confronts a mother’s refusal to leave her four-year-old son's side in the hospital, and will do everything in her power to help the mother in distress. The film opened the Critics’ Week at Cannes and is directed by Wandel, whose film PLAYGROUND was screened at the 2021 GFF.

“We are delighted to present this selection, which embodies the spirit of our festival ,” said Andrew Mohsen, Head of Programming. “These films represent a global array of storytelling, from powerful narratives to thought-provoking documentaries, many of which have already been recognized on the international festival circuit. This is just a glimpse of the cinematic journey that awaits our audience.”

The festival will announce the remaining films in the coming weeks.

About El Gouna Film Festival

El Gouna Film Festival is one of the leading festivals in the Middle East and North Africa. It aims to present a diverse selection of films from around the world, with a particular focus on Arab cinema, to an engaged and knowledgeable audience. The festival seeks to foster cultural exchange through the art of filmmaking, connecting regional filmmakers with their international counterparts in a spirit of collaboration and dialogue. Furthermore, it strives to promote and support the growth of the industry in the region, providing a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and discover new voices and talents that enrich the world of cinema.