The 9th El-Gouna Film Festival, scheduled to take place from October 15 to 23, 2026, in El Gouna, Egypt, will honor Egyptian actress Mona Zaki with the Creative Achievement Award. This prestigious award acknowledges Zaki's significant contributions to Egyptian and Arab cinema, television, and theater over a career spanning more than three decades. The award ceremony will take place during the festival's opening ceremony on October 15.
Mona Zaki began her acting career at the age of 13 in 1989 when she auditioned for Mohamed Sobhi's play Bel Araby El Faseeh (In Classical Arabic). The production ran for over a year, marking her first experience on stage and setting her on a path that would take her across various performance mediums. She later studied at Cairo University's Faculty of Mass Communication while continuing to build her acting career.
Throughout her career, Zaki has demonstrated her versatility by taking on various roles in television, cinema, and theater. Her notable television work includes El A'elah (The Family), Layali El Helmiya (The Helmiya Nights), and Zizinia. Her early cinema roles include Idhak El Soura Tetlaa Helwa (Smile, the Photo Comes Out Beautiful, 1998) and Saeedi fil Gamaa El Amrekiya (Upper Egyptian at the American University, 1998).
As Zaki's career developed, she moved between commercial productions and more dramatic roles. Her filmography includes notable films such as Ayam El Sadat (The Days of Sadat, 2001), Dam El Ghazal (The Deer's Blood, 2005), Ehky Ya Shahrazad (Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story, 2009), Aswar El Amar (The Moon's Walls, 2015), Flight 404 (2024), and El Sett (2025).
Andrew Mohsen, artistic director of the El-Gouna Film Festival, praised Zaki's career, stating that her ability to move between different roles and performance mediums is admirable. He also noted her experience as a producer, which reflects her commitment to the value of cinema and its impact on the film landscape.
Zaki has received several major honors during her career, including the Best Actress award at the Damascus International Film Festival in 2003 and the Faten Hamama Excellence Award at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2020. In response to receiving the Creative Achievement Award, Zaki expressed her gratitude and commitment to continuing to present stories inspired by the realities of Egypt and the wider Arab region.
The El-Gouna Film Festival brings together Egyptian, Arab, and international filmmakers for screenings, industry activities, and programs supporting film production and emerging filmmakers. The festival's 9th edition aims to celebrate the achievements of prominent figures in the film industry, such as Mona Zaki, and provide a platform for new talent to emerge.
Key points
- Mona Zaki to receive Creative Achievement Award at El-Gouna Film Festival
- Award recognizes Zaki's contributions to Egyptian and Arab cinema, television, and theater
- Zaki's career spans over three decades and includes various roles in television, cinema, and theater
