Cinema as a Catalyst for Positive Change: UN Women and the European Union at the 10th Edition of Aswan International Women Film Festival

The 10th edition of the Aswan International Women Film Festival (AIWFF) brought together filmmakers, artists and young people from around the world in Aswan from 20 to 25 April 2026. Held under the theme “Cinema for Society” and dedicated this year to the memory of pioneering Egyptian actress and producer Aziza Amir, the edition reaffirmed the power of cinema as a platform for social change and a space where women’s voices are heard, celebrated and carried forward.

UN Women Egypt, in partnership with the European Union and AIWFF, contributed to this year’s programme through a series of filmmaking workshops and community events designed to deepen dialogue on gender equality and women’s representation, both on screen and behind the camera.

Now in its tenth year, AIWFF is Egypt’s first film festival dedicated to cinematic works that address women’s issues. It also supports young women and men filmmakers from Upper Egypt, who seek opportunities to develop their skills within their own governorates. Organized in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the National Council for Women and the Governorate of Aswan, and in collaboration with international partners including the European Union and UN Women Egypt, the festival has grown at the heart of Upper Egypt into a distinctive platform for filmmakers and the public alike. Over the past decade, it has evolved from a national film festival into a regional platform that brings together voices from across the Global South and North to challenge gender stereotypes, celebrate women’s creativity and inspire a new generation of storytellers. The 10th edition featured more than 73 films from 34 countries across six competitions.

“UN Women is proud of its partnership with AIWFF and the European Union over the past two years. This partnership has been instrumental in supporting a new generation of filmmakers, especially voices from Upper Egypt, through cinema workshops. We support young people to develop their skills and learn how to use cinema to tell stories that are close to people’s lives and reflect the issues that matter to them. Through public community events held on the sidelines of the festival, we have also been able to take the conversation on women, art and culture beyond screening spaces and into the community, because we believe that art is a tool for raising awareness,” said Marwa Alameldeen, Officer-in-Charge, UN Women Egypt.

From 22 to 24 April, community events held at Misr Public Library in Aswan offered the public an opportunity to participate in interactive discussions on the role of cinema in advancing women’s empowerment. The sessions featured renowned actors, actresses, directors, critics and screenwriters, including Bushra, Samah Anwar, Sabry Fawaz, Hamza Elaliy, Ola Elshafey and Tarek Elshinawy. Key events included “Women’s Journey in Egyptian Cinema: Honouring Aziza Amir”; “Traditions and Society: How They Shaped Women-Centred Cinema”; and “Women in TV Drama”. Overall, more than 300 people attended the events and engaged in the discussions.

Youth and the Aswan Cinema Workshops

Over the past seven years, the EU-supported Aswan Cinema Workshops have trained more than 600 young women and men from Aswan in screenwriting, directing and film production. Since UN Women Egypt joined the partnership in 2025, the trainings have expanded to include dedicated sessions on women’s empowerment and gender equality, equipping young filmmakers from Upper Egypt not only with technical skills, but also with the tools to tell stories that matter to their communities. In 2026 alone, 85 participants from Aswan and Assiut took part in the programme, producing 17 short films.

On 21 April, the interactive session “Behind the Lens” brought together around 80 young workshop participants and experienced industry professionals, including screenwriters, producers and film critics, as well as Ambassador Angelina Eichorst, the Head of the Ethe European Union Delegation to Egypt. The open dialogue explored how ideas can be developed into films, the challenges facing the industry and the responsibility of storytelling in addressing social issues. For many participants, it was their first opportunity to speak directly with professionals whose films they had grown up watching.