The Hurghada Youth Film Festival has signed an agreement with Rawya Luxury Resort to host the festival’s fourth edition, scheduled to take place from September 10 to 15.

The signing ceremony was attended by tourism expert Mohamed Abu El-Nasr and screenwriter Mohamed El-Basousi, President of the festival. Also present were tourism expert Islam Abu El-Nasr, journalist Kadry El-Haggar, Director of the festival, and director Ahmed Hagras, the festival’s Marketing Director.

Tourism and Cinema: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Tourism expert Mohamed Abu El-Nasr emphasized that tourism and cinema are two sides of the same coin, as each contributes to the success and promotion of the other. He noted that festival tourism is one of the most vital formats countries rely on for tourism promotion, pointing out that cities like Cannes and Venice have topped the global tourism map thanks to the festivals they host.

For his part, tourism expert Islam Abu El-Nasr stated:

“Hosting the fourth edition of the Hurghada Youth Film Festival at Rawya Luxury Resort reflects our belief in the importance of supporting major cultural and artistic events. These events serve as crucial tools for stimulating tourism and highlighting Egypt as a key destination on the international stage.”

He added that Hurghada possesses all the qualifications to host major cinematic events, given its outstanding hotel infrastructure, breathtaking natural locations, and advanced tourism services. He stressed that the festival represents a genuine opportunity to showcase these assets to filmmakers, stars, and media professionals from around the world, which will positively impact the promotion of Egyptian tourism.

A New Launching Pad for the Festival

Screenwriter Mohamed El-Basousi, President of the festival, stated that the fourth edition marks a distinctive turning point, both in terms of its events and the accommodation venues for celebrity guests, filmmakers, and media professionals. He explained that the Hurghada Culture Palace will host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as several filmmaking workshops and masterclasses.

Journalist Kadry El-Haggar, Director of the festival, also underscored the critical role tourism plays in the success of such events. He noted that the festival fully recognizes the strong bond between tourism and cinema. Consequently, since its inception, the festival has dedicated a special competition for “Tourism Films,” awarding prizes to feature, documentary, or non-fiction films that promote tourism in their respective countries.

This initiative stems from the belief that cinema has become one of the most powerful soft power tools and indirect marketing channels for tourist destinations. Films are capable of conveying an authentic and attractive image of people and places, thereby supporting the national economy and enhancing Egypt’s standing on the global tourism and cultural map—a vision the Hurghada Youth Film Festival has been keen to establish since its very first edition.