20 Best Looks From El Gouna Film Festival 2020

El Gouna Film Festival’s fourth edition recently kicked off with a star-studded red carpet and opening ceremony. The nine-day event, which was originally supposed to take place in September, sees the region’s top cinema talent, as well as the international film community come together in Egypt’s Red Sea resort town. The festival is showcasing 63 films across five categories and welcoming over 200 international guests despite COVID-19, proving it’s one of the film industry’s most important calendar fillers in the region.

And as usual, the event filled with screenings and panel discussions is cementing the marriage between film and fashion. While we have until October 31 to gush over countless glamorous looks, Arab cinema’s finest served some major fashion moments during the exciting opening night that will be hard to brush aside. It’s very safe to say social distancing certainly didn’t stop any of the stars from upping the style stakes.

Some of the Egyptian celebrities rightfully chose to light up the Abu Tig Marina in creations by national designers. One of these was actor Huda El Mufti, who rocked an outfit by Mohanad Kojak of Kojak Studio. Styled by Yasmine Eissa, El Mufti, who is also known as a model and fashion blogger, was a vision in a low-cut cream-colored blouse and a red knotted pencil skirt featuring a floor-sweeping train.

Meanwhile, Saudi-born and raised Arwa Gouda opted for a sensational sparkling fishnet handmade golden gown by Sara Onsi, the first Egyptian designer to participate in Milan Fashion Week. The actor and model was one of the many celebrities who chose to pair her dress with a matching face mask. Another actor and model from the host country, Tara Emad, turned heads in a Deana Shaaban design. The sensational black, off-the-shoulder custom-made gown featured net sleeves.

Other regional creatives, mainly from Lebanon, also helped to make the magical night a fashion fairtytale. Shereen Reda looked radiant in a Rami Kadi couture number, geometrically embroidered with multi-coloured glass beads and sequins. And the award-winning Egyptian actor and model knew just how to show off that floor-length ombre feather cape.

Lebanese actor, presenter and blogger Stephanie Saliba, styled by Cedric Haddad, and Egyptian Menna Shalaby, glittered away in aqua and golden creations by Georges Hobeika. With the help of stylist Carole Bou Khaled, another Egyptian star, Yasmine Sabri, simply oozed glamour. She wore a custom, super embellished and belted sapphire gown by up-and-coming designer Jean Pierre Khoury.

Click through to see all our favourite looks.