These MENA Films Won Big at El Gouna Film Festival 2026
Now that the ninth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) has officially wrapped up, it’s time to look back at the MENA films that caught the jury’s attention and took home awards. From stories about life in Gaza to films exploring women’s struggles and the impact of trauma, these titles put powerful regional storytelling in the spotlight. Here are eight films that made their mark at GFF 2026.
Citizen Osama — Palestine
El Gouna Golden Star for Best Feature Documentary & Best Arab Feature Documentary Film
Palestinian director Ahmed Hassouna’s Citizen Osama offers an intimate look at life in Gaza through the eyes of Osama, one of the last journalists reporting from northern Gaza. Documenting the destruction, starvation, and suffering of his people, the film brings a deeply personal perspective to the realities of living through war. It won the El Gouna Golden Star for Best Feature Documentary and Best Arab Feature Documentary, making it one of this year’s biggest winners.
A War on Women — Iran
El Gouna Bronze Star for Feature Documentary
A War on Women by Iranian filmmaker Raha Shirazi’s shines a light on the oppression women face in Iran, from childhood and throughout their lives. The documentary also captures the movement of women pushing back against these restrictions and fighting for change, making it a powerful look at both the struggles they face and their determination to keep going.
Kentucky Gaza — Palestine
Special Mention in the Short Film Competition
Kentucky Gaza turns a real-life tragedy into a deeply human story, balancing tenderness and humour while preserving the memory of the people behind it. The film follows Anwar, who turns the legendary craving for KFC into a smuggling venture in besieged Gaza. The short film, by Palestinian director Ommar Rammal, received a special mention from the jury, with Rammal explaining that its title was chosen to help him remember the people connected to the story.
My Village Blamed Women for the End of Mankind — Egypt
El Gouna Bronze Star for Short Film
Egyptian director Jad Chahine’s My Village Blamed Women for the End of Mankind stood out for its distinctive visual style and atmospheric storytelling. Set in a fishing village, the film follows a mysterious epidemic that strikes the female population. The short film, which was co-produced with the UK, impressed the jury with its ability to transport viewers beyond time and space, earning it the Bronze Star in the Short Film Competition.
Halima — Morocco
Special Mention in the Feature Narrative Competition
Halima follows an 86-year-old woman who lives with her husband in a modest seaside home, making a living by collecting and selling mussels. As she goes about her quiet daily routine, memories of a past she has tried to bury continue to follow her. The film, by Moroccan director Yassine El Idrissi, received a special mention from the jury for its unpredictable journey and heartfelt storytelling.
Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep — Palestine
NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film and Best Arab Feature Narrative Film
Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep takes viewers to a Bedouin village on the Lebanon–Syria border, where a missing woman and an accidental killing threaten to ignite a feud between rival clans. As the family attempts to prevent further violence, two sisters are expected to sacrifice their own futures to secure peace. Palestinian director Rakan Mayasi’s film explores the heavy price women are made to pay for conflicts they did not start, earning recognition at GFF for its powerful storytelling.
Safe Exit — Egypt
El Gouna Golden Star for Best Feature Narrative Film
Egyptian director Mohammed Hammad took home the festival’s top narrative prize for Safe Exit. The film follows Samaan, a young Christian security guard working in a Cairo residential building who struggles with PTSD after witnessing his father’s murder by a terrorist group in Libya during childhood. Exploring how grief and trauma can carry across generations, the film delivers a moving story about the lasting impact of violence.
A Bit of Light — Iran
El Gouna Bronze Star for Feature Narrative Film
A Bit of Light by Iranian director Ali Asgari follows Arash, a doctor whose clinic is shut down after he treats protesters injured during demonstrations. Losing faith in the future, he decides to end his life and spends his final day visiting his mother and siblings to say goodbye. Blending political realities with intimate family moments, the film explores despair, resilience, and how human connection can offer hope when everything feels lost.
From documentaries that bring urgent stories to the screen to narrative films exploring family, trauma, and the realities women face, GFF 2026 proved that MENA filmmakers have plenty of stories worth watching. And with these films earning recognition on the festival stage, they’re definitely ones to keep on your radar.
