UN Egypt Resident Coordinator's remarks to El Gouna Festival Press Conference

It is a privilege to join you today ahead of the El Gouna Film Festival—one of the region’s most important cultural gatherings.

For the United Nations in Egypt, this festival is more than an artistic celebration. It is a powerful platform to engage people through stories that matter.

Cinema sparks dialogue. It raises awareness. It inspires action. It brings complex issues to life, reaching hearts and minds in ways few other mediums can.

Our UN partnership with the Gouna Film Festival stretches back to the first edition of the festival in 2017. Over the years, the UN has been a proud partner through film screenings, panel discussions, and workshops—to:

• shine a light on children’s rights
• give voice to vulnerable groups, including migrants and refugees
• and highlight women and girls’ empowerment, the cultural heritage and tribal communities.

Through Cinema for Humanity, stories of survival, dignity, and resilience touch audiences in deeply personal ways. They educate, engage, and inspire reflection—opening doors that statistics and reports cannot.

This year’s theme—food—is especially timely. The festival’s opening coincides with World Food Day, reminding us that food is not only about survival, but also about dignity and security. Through cinematic storytelling, these universal issues become personal, inspiring empathy and action.

Looking ahead, we are committed to deepening the collaboration between the UN and the Gouna Film Festival—transforming it into a long-term partnership that each year shines a spotlight on a theme central to both Egypt and the United Nations.

As the UN marks 80 years of advancing peace, human rights, and sustainable development, we are proud to stand with the El Gouna Film Festival, the Government of Egypt, and partners across all sectors—to inspire audiences, amplify voices, and celebrate resilience, creativity, and our shared humanity.

I wish all of you every success with the festival this year and look forward to seeing you there.